THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR 


MAEGARET    TUDOR. 


A  Romance  of  Old  St.  Augustine 
By    ANNIE     T.     COLCOCK 

Illustrated     by 
W.    B.    GILBERT 


NEW   YORK    •  jprefcertcfe  a. 

.StOlUQ   (Pomjjanj?     *    PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1901, 
By  FREDERICK  A.  STOKKS  COMPANY 


All  rights  reserved 


"That  thee  is  sent  receive  in  buxomnesse, 
The  wrastling  of  this  world  asketh  a  fall, 
Here  is  no  home,  here  is  but  wildernesse, 

Looke  up  on  high,  and  thankd  God  of  all ! " 

CHAUCER. 


NOTE. 

The  names  of  Mr.  John  Rivers, — kinsman  and  agent  of 
£2      Lord  Ashley, — Dr.  Wm.  Scrivener  and  Margaret  Tudor 
{£       appear  in  the  passenger  list  of  the  Carolina,  as  given  in 
>.      the  Shaftesbury  Papers  (Collections  of  the  South  Carolina 
Historical  Society,  Vol.  V,  page  135).     In  the  same  (page 
169)  may  be  found  a  brief  account  of  the  capture,  at  Santa 
—*      Catalina,  of  Mr.  Rivers,    Capt.  Baulk,  some  seamen,  a 
woman,  and  a  girl  /also  (page  175)  mention  of  the  unsuc- 
Sr       cessful  embassy  of   Mr.  Collins  ;  and  (page  204)    the 
}N       Memorial  to  the  Spanish  Ambassador  touching  the  deliv- 
§      ery  of  the  prisoners,  one  of  whom  is  alluded  to  as  Mar 
garet,  presumably  Margaret  Tudor. 

The  names  of  the  two  Spaniards,  Senor  de  Colis  and 
^  Don  Pedro  Melinza,  each  appear  once  in  the  Shaftesbury 
O  Papers  ( pages  25  and  443  )  :  the  latter  individual  was 
^  evidently  a  person  of  some  consequence  in  San  Augustin  ; 
the  former,  in  the  year  1663,  was  "  Governour  and  Cap- 
m  tain- General,  Cavallier,  and  Knight  of  the  Order  of  St. 
3:  James." 

ANNIE  T.  COLCOCK. 


448050 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR 
CHAPTER  I. 

SAN  AUGUSTIN,  this  2Qth  of  June,  Anno 
Domini  1670, 

It  is  now  more  than  a  month  since  our  cap 
tivity  began,  and  there  seems  scant  likelihood 
that  it  will  come  to  a  speedy  close, — altho', 
being  in  good  health  myself,  and  of  an  age 
when  hope  dies  slowly,  I  despair  not  of  recov 
ering  both  liberty  and  friends.  Yet,  in  the 
event  of  our  further  detention,  of  sickness  or 
any  other  evil  that  may  befall  me — and  there  is 
one  threatening — I  write  these  pages  of  true  his 
tory,  praying  that  they  may  some  time  reach 
the  hand  of  my  guardian  and  uncle,  Dr.  Wil 
liam  Scrivener,  if  he  be  still  alive  and  dwelling 
in  these  parts.  Should  they  chance,  instead,  to 
meet  the  eyes  of  some  friendly-disposed  person 
of  English  blood  and  Protestant  faith,  to  whom 
the  name  of  William  Scrivener  is  unknown,  I 
beseech  him  to  deliver  them  to  any  person 
sailing  with  the  sloop  Three  Brothers,  which 
did  set  out  from  the  Island  of  Barbadoes  on 
the  2nd  of  November  last, — being  in  the  hire  of 
Sir  Thomas  Colleton,  and  bearing  freight  and 
passengers  for  these  shores. 


2  THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

If  the  sloop  has  suffered  some  misadventure 
(as  I  fear  is  not  unlikely,— either  at  the  hands 
of  the  Spaniards,  or  else  of  the  Indians  of  these 
parts,  who  do  show  themselves  most  unfriendly 
to  all  Englishmen,  being  set  on  to  mischief  by 
the  Spanish  friars),  then  I  pray  that  word  may 
be  forwarded  to  his  Lordship,  the  Duke  of 
Albemarle,  and  others  of  the  Lords  Proprie 
tors  who  did  commission  and  furnish  a  fleet  of 
three  vessels,  to  wit :  the  Carolina,  the  Port 
Royal,  and  the  Albemarle,  which  did  weigh 
anchor  at  the  Downs  in  August  of  last  year, 
and  set  forth  to  plant  an  English  colony  at 
Port  Royal. 

In  particular  would  I  implore  that  word 
might  reach  Lord  Ashley,  seeing  that  his  kins 
man,  Mr.  John  Rivers,  is  here  detained  a  pris 
oner  in  sorry  state,  laden  with  chains  in  the 
dungeon  of  the  Castle — for  which  may  God 
forgive  me,  I  being  in  some  degree  to  blame ; 
and  yet,  since  it  hath  pleased  Heaven  to  grant 
me  the  fair  face  that  wrought  the  mischief,  I 
hold  myself  the  less  guilty  and  grieve  the  more 
bitterly,  inasmuch  as  I  love  him  with  a  maid's 
true  love  and  would  willingly  give  my  life  to 
spare  him  hurt. 

If  it  were  so  that  I  might  give  the  true  nar 
rative  of  our  present  plight,  and  how  it  fell 
about,  without  cumbering  the  tale  with  men- 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.     3 

tion  of  my  own  name,  it  would  please  me 
best ;  but  as  those  who  read  it  may  be  stran 
gers,  I  would  better  tell  my  story  from  the 
start. 

Of  myself  it  is  enough  to  say  that  my  name 
is  Margaret  Tudor,  and  saving  my  uncle,  Dr. 
Scrivener,  I  am  alone  in  the  world  and  well- 
nigh  portionless — my  father  having  spent  his 
all,  and  life  and  liberty  to  boot,  in  the  service 
of  King  Charles,  being  one  of  those  unfortu 
nate  royalists  who  plotted  for  His  Majesty's 
return  in  the  year  '55.  For,  as  Cromwell  did 
discover  their  designs  ere  they  were  fully  ripe, 
many  were  taken  prisoners,  of  whom  some 
suffered  death  and  others  banishment.  Of 
these  last  was  my  father,  who  was  torn  from 
the  arms  of  his  young  wife  and  babe  and  sent 
in  slavery  to  Barbadoes.  We  could  learn 
nothing  of  his  after  fate,  though  many  inqui 
ries  were  made  in  his  behalf. 

And  so  it  fell  about  that, — my  mother  having 
gone  to  her  rest, — I  did  take  passage  with  my 
uncle,  Dr.  William  Scrivener,  on  board  the 
Carolina,  with  intent  to  stop  at  Barbadoes  and 
make  some  search  for  my  poor  father  in  the 
hope  that  he  yet  lived. 

Among  the  passengers  of  the  Carolina  was 
Lord  Ashley's  kinsman  and  agent,  Mr.  John 
Rivers,  of  whom  I  can  find  naught  to  say  that 


4  THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

seems  fitting ;  for  although  it  may  hap  that  in 
this  great  world  there  are  other  men  of  a 
countenance  as  fine,  a  mien  as  noble,  and 
a  heart  as  brave  and  tender,  it  has  not  been 
my  lot  as  yet  to  encounter  them. 

Together  we  did  sail  for  three  months  on 
the  great  deep,  in  danger  of  pirates,  in  peril  of 
tempests,  and  in  long  hours  of  golden  calm 
when  the  waters  burned  blue  around  us  and 
the  wide  heaven  shone  pale  and  clear  over  our 
heads.  And  in  all  that  time  we  came  to  know 
one  another  passing  well;  and  Mr.  Rivers 
heard  my  father's  story  and  promised  to  aid  us 
in  our  search. 

It  was  October  when  we  reached  Barbadoes 
and  landed.  Of  the  news  that  we  obtained, 
and  the  strange  chance  that  brought  it  to  our 
ears,  it  is  needless  here  to  speak.  Let  it  suf 
fice  that  my  dear  father  did  not  suffer  long,  as 
death  soon  freed  him  from  his  bondage. 

We  had  no  further  cause  to  detain  us  in 
Barbadoes,  so  we  yielded  to  the  persuasions  of 
Mr.  Rivers  that  we  should  continue  with  the 
expedition  to  Port  Royal ;  and,  in  November, 
we  set  sail  once  more  in  the  Three  Brothers,  a 
sloop  hired  to  replace  the  Albemarle,  which, 
in  consequence  of  a  broken  cable,  had  been 
driven  ashore  in  a  gale  and  lost  upon  the 
rocks. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.  5 

From  now  on,  for  the  truth's  sake,  I  must 
needs  tell  somewhat  of  my  intercourse  with  Mr. 
Rivers.  It  may  seem  I  am  lacking  in  a  proper 
modesty  if  I  declare  that,  even  then,  there  was 
more  than  friendship  betwixt  us.  But  surely 
there  were  reasons  enough  and  to  spare.  That 
I  should  love  him  was  no  mystery — he  being 
the  gallant  gentleman  he  is  ;  and,  since  there 
chanced  to  be  no  other  maid  upon  the  vessel 
of  proper  age  and  gentle  condition,  I  suppose 
it  was  in  nature  that  he  should  make  the  best 
of  the  little  society  he  had.  But  nay,  I 
would  be  false  to  my  own  faith  if  I  doubted 
that  It  was  foreordained  of  Heaven  that  we 
should  come  together  and  love  one  another. 

It  is  true  that  I  did  not  make  confession  of 
this  belief  until  I  had  tormented  my  would-be 
lord  with  every  teasing  device  that  entered  into 
my  brain.  But  though  he  was  often  cast  down 
for  hours  together,  he  gave  me  to  understand 
that  he  could  read  my  heart  in  my  blue  eyes. 

"  An  you  were  to  swear  upon  your  soul  you 
hated  me,  dear  lady,  I'd  not  believe  it,"  he  once 
said.  "  Mistress  Margaret  is  too  unversed  in 
city  ways  and  shallow  coquetries  to  play  a  part 
— and  'tis  for  that  I  love  her  so."  And  though 
it  angered  me  to  have  him  praise  my  innocence 
and  country  airs,  I  knew  he  spoke  the  truth, 
and  that  a  time  would  come  when  I  would 
own  my  love  for  him.  And  so  it  did. 


6  THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

A  terrible  storm  had  raged  for  eight-and- 
forty  hours.  There  had  been  wild,  black,  awful 
nights,  and  sullen  days  when  the  gray  curtains 
of  the  sky  were  torn  asunder  and  whirled  over 
us  in  inky  folds,  their  tattered  fringes  lashing 
up  the  seas,  and  whipping  our  frail  bark  till  it 
skulked  and  cowered,  like  a  beaten  cur  that 
looks  in  vain  for  mercy.  We  had  drifted  north 
ward  far  from  our  course,  our  two  consorts 
had  disappeared,  and  we  had  well-nigh  given 
up  hope,  when  with  the  dawning  of  the  third 
day  the  wind  lulled,  and  through  the  ragged 
clouds  we  saw  the  blue  arch  of  heaven  high 
above  us. 

I  had  climbed  out  upon  the  deck  alone  ;  and 
from  a  sheltered  corner  I  saw  the  sun  rise  and 
gild  a  far-off  strip  of  shore  that  lay  to  west  of 
us.  It  seemed  a  vision  of  a  new  heaven  and 
a  new  earth,  and  I  gave  God  thanks.  Then  a 
hand  touched  mine,  and  a  voice  whispered  my 
name — and  other  words  that  need  not  be 
recorded  here  ;  and  I  could  answer  nothing  in 
denial,  for  the  reason  that  my  heart  was  too 
full. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  land  to  west  of  us  was  Virginia,  and  we 
sought  harbour  at  Nancemund,  and  lay  there 
some  weeks  for  needful  repairs  on  the  sloop, 
which  was  also  provisioned  afresh  for  her 
further  voyage. 

It  was  then  the  month  of  February  ;  we  had 
been  six  months  a-journeying,  and  still  the 
promised  land  was  far  away. 

This  tale  of  mine,  however,  bids  fair  to  spin 
itself  at  too  great  length,  so  I  must  hasten  on 
to  the  story  of  our  captivity. 

In  spite  of  fairly  good  weather  on  our  way 
southward  we  somehow  over  passed  the  lati 
tude  of  Port  Royal  harbour ;  and  of  a  Saturday 
in  May — the  fifteenth  day  of  the  month — we 
did  cast  anchor  at  a  little  isle  upon  the  coast,  in 
order  to  obtain  wood  and  water  for  the  sloop's 
needs. 

This  island  is  within  the  territory  of  the 
Spaniards,  who  have  named  it  Santa  Catalina. 
It  lies  some  days'  journey  north  of  San  Augus- 
tin, — the  exact  latitude  I  know  not,  although 


8     THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

I  have  heard  it  more  times  than  one  ;  but  there 
are  some  things  that  abide  never  in  a  woman's 
brain. 

Here  appeared  many  Indians,  who  seemed 
at  first  not  unfriendly,  and  spoke  words  of  wel 
come  to  us  in  the  Spanish  tongue. 

Much  trading  was  done  aboard  the  sloop,  and 
the  barbarians  appeared  strangely  content  with 
strings  of  paltry  beads  and  the  cast-off  gar 
ments  of  the  crew,  giving  in  their  stead  good 
provender,  and  skins  of  the  wild  deer  dressed 
soft  and  fine. 

The  second  day  of  our  stay,  Mr.  Rivers,  with 
the  ship's  master  and  three  seamen,  went 
ashore  with  such  stuff  as  the  Indians  desire,  to 
trade  for  pork  and  other  provisions  ;  and  it 
being  a  Monday  morn,  Dame  Barbara  did  crave 
leave  to  take  her  washing  and  go  with  them,  in 
the  hope  of  finding  a  softer  water  to  cleanse 
the  linen. 

It  was  early  morning ;  the  breeze  from  the 
land  blew  sweet  and  fragrant,  and  the  woods 
beyond  the  sandy  beach  bourgeoned  in  new 
leafage,  green  and  tender.  I  longed  for  the 
scent  of  the  warm  earth,  and  the  tuneful  court 
ing  of  bird-lovers  in  the  thicket ;  so  I  prayed 
my  uncle  to  let  me  go  ashore  with  the  dame. 
He  acceded  willingly  enough;  but  Mr.  Rivers, 
who  is  always  over-anxious  where  my  safety  is 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.     9 

concerned,  counselled    me   earnestly   not    to 
leave  the  ship. 

I  was  ever  a  headstrong  maid,  and  the  sun 
shine  and  the  scent  of  far-off  flowers  had  set 
me  nearly  wild  with  longing ;  so  I  chid  him 
roundly  for  his  caution  and  merrily  warned 
him  to  beware  how  he  sought  to  clip  the  wings 
of  a  free  bird.  Go  I  did,  therefore,  though  he 
smiled  and  shook  his  head  at  me ;  and  when 
we  all  parted  company  at  the  watering-place 
he  seemed  uneasy  still,  and,  looking  backward 
over  his  shoulder  as  I  waved  farewell,  entreated 
me  to  wander  no  farther  from  the  shore. 

The  little  spring  where  they  had  left  us 
welled  up,  cold  and  clear,  at  the  foot  of  a  tall 
cypress-tree,  and  trickled  thence  in  a  tiny 
stream,  a  mere  thread  of  crystal,  that  tangled 
itself  in  the  low  bush  and  wound  its  way  help 
lessly  through  the  level  wooded  country,  as 
though  seeking  for  some  gentle  slope  that 
would  lead  it  to  the  sea. 

The  dame  rinsed  her  linen  till  it  fairly  shone, 
and  spread  it  out  to  dry  in  a  sunny  nook;  while 
I  lay  prone  on  the  warm  earth  and  stirred  up 
the  damp  brown  leaves  that  had  drifted  into  a 
tiny  hollow,  and  found  beneath  them  a  wee 
green  vine  with  little  white  star-flowers  that 
blinked  up  at  the  sun  and  me.  And  I  dreamed 
of  the  new  home  we  would  make  for  ourselves 


io         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

in  this  far  country,  and  of  the  very  good  and 
docile  wife  I  would  be  to  my  dear  love.  Then 
at  last, — because  I  grew  aweary  at  the  prospect 
of  my  very  great  obedience  in  the  future,  and 
because,  too,  I  thought  it  was  high  time  my 
gallant  gentleman  came  back  to  ask  me  how  I 
did, — up  from  the  ground  I  started,  rousing 
the  dame  from  a  sweet  nap. 

"  Look,  Barbara !  the  linen  is  dry;  the  sun  is 
on  its  westering  way,  and  the  shadows  grow 
longer  and  longer. — 'Tis  very  strange  that  Mr. 
Rivers  and  the  master  have  not  returned  !  " 

"  Mayhap  they  have  clean  forgot  us  and 
gone  back  to  the  ship  alone,"  moaned  the  old 
woman,  rubbing  her  sleepy  eyes  and  beginning 
at  once  to  croak  misfortune,  after  the  manner 
of  her  class. 

Such  an  idea  was  past  belief  and  set  me 
smiling.  I  laid  my  hollowed  palms  behind  my 
ears  and  listened. 

Master  Wind,  passing  through  the  tree-tops, 
had  set  every  leaf  a-whispering  and  nid-nod 
ding  to  its  gossips, — just  as  the  peddler  on  his 
way  through  the  village  at  home  stirs  all  the 
women-folk  to  chattering  about  the  latest  news 
from  the  whole  countryside.  In  the  thicket 
beside  us  a  chorus  of  feathered  singers  were 
all  a-twitter,  each  trying  to  outdo  his  neighbour; 
but  one  saucy  fellow  piped  the  merriest  tune 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         II 

of  all,  mingling  in  a  delicious  medley  the 
sweetest  notes  of  all  the  rest.  Of  a  sudden, 
as  I  listened,  there  was  a  soft  rustle  in  the 
undergrowth,  and  out  from  a  clump  of  myrtles 
bounced  a  little  brown  rabbit,  who  cocked  an 
astonished  eye  at  me  and  disappeared  again 
with  a  series  of  soundless  leaps  and  a  terrified 
whisk  of  his  little  white  tail.  Upon  that  the 
laugh  in  my  throat  bubbled  over ;  I  dropped 
my  hands  and  turned  to  the  dame. 

"  Gather  up  your  linen,  good  Barbara,  and 
let  us  explore  the  trail  ourselves.  They  are 
doubtless  picnicking  somewhere  in  the  woods 
beyond,  and  'tis  very  discourteous  not  to  bid 
us  to  the  entertainment." 

She  would  have  demurred  at  first:  the  linen 
was  not  to  be  left,  and  yet  was  too  weighty  to 
carry;  her  back  was  aweary  and  she  was  fain  to 
rest  in  peace.  But  Mistress  Margaret  was 
minded  to  have  her  own  way,  and,  dividing 
the  bundle  in  two,  started  on  ahead  with  the 
larger  share  of  it;  so  that,  will  she,  nill  she,  the 
dame  must  follow. 

I  knew,  of  course,  that  I  was  disobeying  Mr. 
Rivers'  last  injunction,  and  'twas  that  thought 
quite  as  much  as  the  sweet  woodland  airs  that 
lured  me  on  :  I  desired,  above  all  things,  to 
behold  the  countenance  of  my  gallant  gentle 
man  when  he  discovered  my  wilfulness.  So 


12          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

I  hastened  forward,  pausing  now  and  again  to 
encourage  the  good  dame  and  entice  her  still 
farther  with  glowing  descriptions  of  new  beau 
ties  just  coming  into  view. 

It  fell  about,  therefore,  that  I  was  some 
forty  paces  in  advance  of  her  when  I  suddenly 
came  upon  the  Indian  settlement  and  saw 
there  a  sight  that  made  my  heart  stand  still. 

I  drew  back  hastily  behind  the  trunk  of  a 
wide-branched  oak,  whence  I  could  look — un 
seen,  I  thought — upon  the  town. 

A  great  concourse  of  barbarians  was  assem 
bled  in  the  open  space  before  the  chief  building, 
which  was  of  considerable  size,  built  round 
after  the  manner  of  a  dove-house,  and  com 
pletely  thatched  with  palmetto  leaves.  Many 
smaller  buildings  surrounded  it:  one,  in  especial, 
I  would  have  done  well  to  take  note  of;  for  it 
was  doubtless  a  kind  of  sentinel  or  watch-tower, 
being  set  on  tall,  upright  timbers  which  gave 
it  an  elevation  much  greater  than  any  part  of 
the  surrounding  country. 

I  had  eyes  for  naught,  however,  but  one 
figure,  that  stood,  with  hands  and  feet  bound, 
at  the  foot  of  a  great  wooden  cross  planted 
opposite  the  entrance  of  the  chief  building. 
It  was  my  dear  love — I  knew  him  on  the 
instant  by  the  proud  poise  of  his  head  and 
shoulders.  He  was  speaking  in  his  usual  calm 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         13 

and  courtly  tones  to  the  circle  of  half-naked 
savages,  who  seemed  to  hear  him  with  respect 
ful  consideration,  though  they  made  no  motion 
to  loose  his  bonds. 

On  the  ground  beside  him  lay  the  ship's 
master,  old  Captain  Baulk,  and  the  three  sea 
men,  their  arms  securely  pinioned.  Near 
them  was  the  bale  of  goods  which  had  been 
brought  from  the  ship  :  it  lay  wide  open,  and 
was  being  most  unscrupulously  rifled  of  its 
contents. 

For  the  moment  I  thought  it  was  the  sight 
of  the  gewgaws  this  bale  contained  that  had 
roused  the  cupidity  of  the  barbarians;  but  now 
I  believe  otherwise.  The  savages  would  have 
paid  for  them  willingly,  in  skins  and  such  like, 
and  then  suffered  our  men  to  depart  in  peace, 
had  not  that  smooth-tongued  hypocrite,  Igna- 
cio,  been  behind.  But  this,  of  course,  was 
unknown  to  me  at  the  time. 

The  idea  came  over  me,  like  a  flash,  that  we 
should  go  for  help  to  the  ship  ;  and  I  turned 
quickly  and  signalled  the  dame  to  be  silent. 
It  was  too  late,  however,  for  she  had  caught 
sight  of  the  savages  and  of  our  men  bound  in 
the  midst  of  them ;  and  turning  to  the  right 
about  with  a  shrill  scream,  she  cast  away  the 
bundle  of  linen  and  started  back  the  way  we 
had  come  at  a  speed  which  'tis  likely  she  had 


14         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

never  equalled  in  her  life  before.  After  her  I 
hastened,  and  implored  her  to  be  still,  lest 
the  barbarians  should  hear  and  overtake  us. 
My  one  thought  was  to  summon  aid  ;  for, 
though  there  seemed  to  be  over  two  hundred 
of  the  Indians,  I  believed  that  our  handful  of 
men,  armed  with  muskets,  swords,  and  pikes, 
would  be  sufficient  to  strike  terror  into  them 
at  once. 

We  had  scarce  run  an  hundred  yards  down 
the  trail  when  four  savages  stepped  from  a 
thicket  and  laid  hands  upon  us.  They  had 
lain  in  wait,  there  is  no  doubt,  so  'twas  evident 
we  had  been  seen  some  while  before. 

Barbara  resisted  them  with  much  wild 
shrieking,  but  I  submitted  in  silence.  'Twas 
not  that  I  was  any  braver  than  she,  but  simply 
that  I  could  not  believe  that  they  meant  to  do 
us  any  real  harm  ;  and  all  the  while  I  was  pos 
sessed  with  the  thought  that  there  was  some 
one  stationed  in  the  thicket  who  was  directing 
the  actions  of  the  savages.  It  appeared  to 
me  that,  as  they  fastened  our  arms  behind 
us,  their  eyeballs  rolled  ever  toward  a  certain 
myrtle-bush,  as  if  they  were  waiting  for  a 
cue. 

We  were  led  back  at  once  to  the  town,  and 
I  shall  never  forget  the  look  upon  my  dear 
love's  face  as  he  caught  sight  of  me. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          15 

"  Margaret — you  also  !  I  had  hoped  you 
and  the  dame  were  safe  !  "  he  cried  out,  as 
our  captors  led  us  to  his  side. 

"  'Twas  all  my  wilfulness — I  came  hither 
seeking  you,"  I  answered,  and  hung  my  head. 

He  looked  at  me  dumbly,  and  then  turned 
his  face  away ;  and  I  saw  his  arms  writhing  in 
their  bonds.  A  strange  feeling  came  upon 
me,  part  shame  and  sorrow  that  I  should  have 
grieved  him  so,  and  part  exultation  that — 
whatever  our  fate — at  least  we  would  meet  it 
side  by  side.  Fear  had  the  least  place  in  my 
thoughts  as  I  waited,  breathless,  for  the  out 
come  of  this  strange  situation.  My  eyes 
wandered  round  the  circle  of  barbarians,  and 
I  noted  with  some  wonderment  that  num 
bers  of  the  men  wore  their  crowns  shaven, 
after  the  manner  of  a  priest's  tonsure. 

One  among  them,  who  seemed  of  greater 
consequence  than  the  rest,  began  to  speak  ; 
but  I  could  make  nothing  of  his  discourse, 
although  he  used  many  words  that  I  thought 
had  somewhat  of  a  Spanish  ring. 

Yet  his  meaning  was  fathomed  by  Mr. 
Rivers,  who  gave  him  the  reply  on  the  instant, 
couched  in  the  Spanish,  and  delivered  with 
some  heat  and  indignation 

There  was  a  stir  among  the  barbarians,  and 
presently  there  appeared  a  new  figure  on  the 


i6         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

scene.  The  shaven  crown,  the  bare  feet,  the 
coarse  woollen  robe  fastened  by  a  knotted 
cord  about  the  waist,  all  denoted  a  friar  of 
the  Franciscan  order. 

"  So,"  muttered  Mr.  Rivers,  under  his  breath, 
"  now  we  have  the  real  chief  to  deal  with." 

Scarcely  less  swarthy  than  the  Indians 
themselves  was  the  dark  face  of  the  Spanish 
friar.  As  he  came  forward  into  the  open 
space,  he  raised  his  eyes  to  the  great  cross  at 
the  foot  of  which  we  were  standing,  and 
straightway  bent  the  knee  and  crossed  himself. 
Some  few  of  the  Indians  likewise  made  the 
sign  upon  their  breasts,  though  the  greater 
part  contained  themselves  with  the  same 
stolidity  that  had  marked  them  from  the  first. 

Mr.  Rivers  gave  a  low  laugh,  and  turned  to 
me  with  a  curling  lip.  "  These  be  Christians," 
he  said. 

The  Spaniard  caught  the  sneer,  and  a  scowl 
gathered  on  his  coarse  face  ;  but  he  checked 
it  suddenly  and  began  in  smooth  tones  to 
address  us. 

Old  Captain  Baulk  had  raised  himself  to  a 
sitting  posture,  and  the  seamen  all  held  them 
selves  in  attitudes  of  strained  attention. 

"  What  says  he?  "  I  asked,  in  a  whisper,  of 
my  dear  love,  when  the  friar  had  ceased  and 
turned  away  from  us. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          *7 

"Naught  but  a  tissue  of  lies,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Rivers,  through  his  clenched  teeth.  "  He 
would  have  us  believe  that  he  is  wholly  irre 
sponsible  for  the  doings  of  these  '  banditos '; 
but  he  will  exert  what  influence  he  has  among 
the  believers  of  his  flock  to  procure  our  re 
lease, — I  would  we  had  fallen  among  infidels  ! 
These  can  have  learned  naught  of  their  teacher 
but  deceit.  They  tricked  us,  on  the  plea  of 
our  most  mutual  confidence,  to  lay  aside  our 
arms,  and  then  fell  instantly  upon  us  and 
made  us  captive." 

"  I  would  to  Heaven  I  could  have  gone 
back  to  the  ship  and  given  warning,"  I  sighed 
dolefully.  "Yet  perhaps  some  of  them  may 
come  out  to  search  for  us." 

"  Now  God  forbid  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Rivers, 
"  for  they  would  walk  into  a  trap.  Some  of 
these  Indians  have  muskets  and  ammunition, 
and  are  therefore  as  well  armed  as  our  men. 
If  many  more  of  us  were  taken  there  would 
not  be  left  able-bodied  men  enough  to  sail  the 
sloop.  'Twould  be  better  if  they  held  off  and 
waited  for  the  Indians  to  take  the  initiative. 
My  hope  is  that  we  will  be  able  to  treat  with 
the  savages  for  ransom, — that  is,  if  the  friar 
bears  us  no  real  ill  will.  See,  here  he  comes 
again,  with  his  oily  tongue." 

The  shifty  eyes  and  full-lipped  mouth  of  the 


i8          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

man  filled  me  with  a  sudden  loathing.  Fear 
began  to  take  hold  of  me  at  last,  and  a  little 
sob  broke  in  my  throat. 

My  dear  love  turned  to  me  with  a  quick, 
warm  glance. 

"  Cheer  up,  sweetheart,"  he  whispered.  "  It 
is  too  soon  to  lose  courage.  Come,  where  is 
my  brave  Margaret  ?  " 

"  Here  !  "  I  answered,  and  forced  a  smile  on 
my  quivering  lips. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  rest  of  the  day  passed  by  like  a  long 
nightmare.  The  friar  had  us  removed  to  a  small 
but  strongly  built  hut,  containing  two  rooms, 
separated  by  a  thin  partition  of  hides  nailed 
to  a  row  of  upright  studs.  These  were  of 
squared  timber,  as  was  the  floor  also,  and  the 
outer  frame  and  wall-plate.  The  roof  and 
sides  were  overlaid  with  thatch ;  and  there 
was  no  window,  only  a  square  opening  in  the 
roof  which  admitted  the  light,  and  also  let  out 
the  smoke  when  a  fire  was  built  upon  the 
floor. 

As  dark  came  on,  two  young  Indian  girls 
entered  the  hut,  where  we  sat,  bound,  with 
our  backs  against  the  wall. 

They  seemed  kindly  disposed  and  gentle- 
mannered,  for  all  their  outlandish  garb,  which 
consisted  of  a  petticoat  of  long  gray  moss,  and 
strings  of  little  shells  and  beads  of  divers 
colours  festooned  about  the  neck. 

They  loosed  Barbara  and  me,  for  which  we 
were  mightily  grateful,  as  our  arms  had  grown 
numb  and  sore.  We  made  signs  that  they 


20         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

should  cut  the  bonds  of  the  men  also,  which 
they  declined  to  do.  Yet  they  touched  us 
with  gentle  hands,  and  stroked  our  shoulders 
in  token  of  their  good  will. 

After  this  they  brought  wet  clay  and  spread 
it  upon  the  floor,  and  on  this  laid  a  fire  and 
kindled  it ;  going  forth  again,  they  returned 
with  food  and  set  it  before  us,  making  signs 
that  we  who  were  free  should  feed  the  rest. 

While  I  was  serving  my  dear  love — who 
made  pitiable  pretence  of  enjoying  my  minis 
trations — the  friar  entered  the  hut,  accom 
panied  by  two  others  who  were  doubtless  of 
mixed  Spanish  and  Indian  blood. 

They  bore  with  them  heavy  manacles  and 
chains,  which  they  fastened  upon  our  men, 
cutting  the  leathern  thongs  which  had  held 
them  until  now. 

Mr.  Rivers  demanded  to  know  by  whose 
orders  this  was  done. 

"  For  it  would  seem  our  true  jailers  are  not 
the  Indians.  These  fetters  are  of  Spanish 
forging.  Is  it  to  your  nation,  padre,  we  are 
indebted  for  this  urgent  hospitality  ?  " 

To  this  the  friar  made  answer  at  great  length, 
and  what  he  said  appeared  to  enrage  our  men, 
who  broke  forth  in  a  round  volley  of  oaths  as 
soon  as  our  jailers  had  left  the  hut.  I  turned 
to  Mr.  Rivers  for  explanation. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         21 

"  Tis  as  I  supposed,"  he  said,  "and  the 
friar  is  at  the  bottom  of  it  all.  He  maintains 
now  that  in  landing  here  and  attempting  to 
trade  with  the  Indians  we  have  committed  an 
offence  against  the  sovereignty  of  Santo 
Domingo,  which  claims  all  this  coast  as 
Spanish  territory.  These  Indians,  he  declares, 
are  under  the  protection  of  his  government, 
and  therefore  are  not  free  to  dispose  of  any 
goods  to  us  English,  or  to  receive  any  favours 
at  our  hands ;  as  such  dealings  would  be  to 
the  prejudice  of  the  Spanish  rights  and 
influence  over  this  country.  Therefore  he 
has  claimed  us  from  the  Indians  and  proposes 
himself  to  hold  us  prisoners,  awaiting  the 
decision  of  the  Governor  at  San  Augustin." 

As  I  look  back  now,  it  seems  to  me  that  in 
those  first  hours  of  our  captivity  I  grew  older 
by  many  years.  That  gladsome  morning,  with 
its  wilful  moods  and  joyous  daring,  fell  away 
back  into  the  past,  and  seemed  as  unreal  as 
the  day-dreams  of  my  childhood. 

We  slept  that  night,  Dame  Barbara  and  I, 
upon  a  soft  and  springy  couch  of  moss  piled 
in  the  little  inner  room.  That  is  to  say,  we 
lay  there  silently ;  but  I  think  I  scarce  closed 
my  eyes. 

The  wind,  drifting  through  the  gaping 
thatch,  caught  the  loose  corner  of  a  shrivelled 


22         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

strip  of  hide  dangling  on  the  rude  partition 
wall,  and  kept  it  swinging  back  and  forth,  with 
a  faint,  tap-tap,  tap-tap,  the  whole  night  long. 
As  it  swung  outward  I  could  catch  fleeting 
glimpses  of  the  little  group  huddled  about  the 
dying  fire ;  and  for  hours  I  lay  and  listened  to 
the  low  murmur  of  their  voices  and  the  heavy 
clank  and  rattle  of  their  chains. 

Old  Captain  Baulk  was  in  a  garrulous  mood, 
and  he  poured  into  the  sailors'  ears  a  horrid 
tale  of  how  the  Spaniards  had  massacred  the 
first  French  settlers  on  this  coast. 

"  'Twas  just  about  one  hundred  years  ago," 
he  droned  in  a  gruesome  whisper.  "  Ribault's 
settlement  was  on  the  River  May,  somewhere 
in  these  latitudes.  There  were  about  nine 
hundred  of  them  in  all,  'tis  said,  counting  the 
women  and  children ;  and  not  one  of  them 
escaped.  The  bodies  of  dead  and  wounded 
were  alike  hung  upon  a  tree  for  the  crows " 

"  In  God's  name,  hold  your  croaking 
tongue  !  "  Mr.  Rivers  broke  in  angrily.  "  'Tis 
bad  enough  for  the  women  as  things  are,  and 
if  they  overhear  these  old  wives'  tales,  think 
you  it  will  make  them  rest  easier  ?  " 

"  Not  old  wives'  tales,  Mr.  Rivers,  but  the 
fact,  sir, — the  bloody  fact." 

"  Silence  !  "  whispered  my  betrothed,  in  a 
voice  that  made  me  tremble, — for  he  hath  a 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         23 

hot  temper  when  it  is  roused.  "  Unless  thou 
canst  hold  that  ill-omened  tongue  of  thine, 
there  presently  will  be  another  bloody  fact 
between  thy  teeth !  " 

A  sudden  silence  fell.  'Twas  broken  finally 
by  my  dear  love,  whose  generous  nature  soon 
repented  of  a  harshly  spoken  word. 

"  I  was  over-hasty,  my  good  Baulk ;  but  I 
would  not  for  the  world  have  Mistress  Tudor 
hear  aught  of  those  horrors.  And  times  have 
changed  greatly  in  an  hundred  years.  But 
this  inaction,  this  inaction !  'Tis  terrible  upon 
a  man  !  " 

A  suppressed  groan  accompanied  the  ex 
clamation,  and  my  heart  ached  for  him.  It 
must  indeed  be  hard  for  men — who  are  used 
to  carving  their  own  fates  and  wresting  from 
fortune  their  desires — suddenly  to  be  forced 
to  play  the  woman's  part  of  patient  waiting. 

The  next  day  brought  no  relief. 

From  the  windowless  hut  we  could  see 
naught  of  what  passed  without ;  but  about  an 
hour  before  noon  we  heard  a  drum  beat  in  the 
village.  The  sound  grew  ever  fainter,  as 
though  receding ;  then  came  the  distant  re 
port  of  musketry,  and  we  grew  anxious  for 
our  people  on  the  sloop.  Hours  passed  by, 
and  again  came  the  sound  of  heavy  firing, 
which  gradually  died  away  as  before. 


24         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  we  were  joined  by 
another  prisoner,  whom — from  his  dress  of 
skins — we  mistook  at  first  sight  for  a  young 
Indian;  but  'twas  no  other  than  the  lad  Poole, 
who  was  in  Mr.  Rivers's  service  and  most 
loyally  attached  to  his  master. 

From  him  we  learned  that  the  Indians  and 
some  Spaniards  had  been  parleying  with  our 
men  all  day.  He  had  swum  ashore  with  a 
letter  to  the  friar,  and  had  been  received  with 
kindness  by  the  savages,  who  clad  him  after 
their  own  fashion.  The  friar,  however,  vouch 
safed  him  no  reply ;  and  after  a  time  gave  a 
signal  to  his  men  to  fire  on  the  sloop.  The 
arrows  of  the  Indians  and  the  muskets  of  the 
Spaniards  had  finally  compelled  the  Three 
Brothers  to  weigh  anchor  and  put  out  to  sea. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DAY  after  day  dragged  by.  We  grew 
aweary  of  discussing  the  possibilities  of  our 
escape  and  fell  gradually  into  silence. 

It  was  on  the  first  day  of  June  that  Don 
Pedro  de  Melinza  arrived  in  the  galley  from 
San  Augustin,  and  our  captivity  took  on  a  new 
phase. 

He  is  a  handsome  man,  this  Spanish  Don, 
and  he  bears  himself  with  the  airs  of  a  courtier 
— when  it  so  pleases  him.  As  he  stood  that 
day  at  the  open  door  of  our  hut  prison,  in  the 
full  glow  of  the  summer  morning,  he  was  a 
goodly  sight.  His  thick  black  hair  was  worn 
in  a  fringe  of  wavy  locks  that  rested  lightly 
on  his  flaring  collar.  His  leathern  doublet 
fitted  close  to  his  slight,  strong  figure,  and 
through  its  slashed  sleeves  there  was  a  shim 
mer  of  fine  silk.  In  his  right  hand  he  held  his 
plumed  sombrero  against  his  breast ;  his  left 
rested  carelessly  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

I  could  find  no  flaw  in  his  courteous  greet 
ings;  but  I  looked  into  his  countenance  and 
liked  it  not. 


26         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

The  nose  was  straight  and  high,  the  keen 
dark  eyes  set  deep  in  the  olive  face ;  but  be 
neath  the  short,  curled  moustache  projected 
a  full,  red  under  lip. 

Show  me,  in  a  man,  an  open  brow,  a  clear 
eye,  a  firm-set  mouth,  and  a  chin  that  neither 
aims  to  meet  the  nose  nor  lags  back  upon  the 
breast ;  and  I  will  dub  him  honest,  and  brave, 
and  clean-minded.  But  if  his  forehead  skulks 
backward,  his  chin  recedes,  and  his  nether  lip 
curls  over  redly — though  the  other  traits  be 
handsome,  and  the  figure  full  of  grace  and 
strength  controlled — trust  that  man  I  never 
could !  Such  an  one  I  saw  once  in  my  early 
childhood.  My  mother  pointed  him  out  to 
me  and  bade  me  note  him  well. 

"  That  man,"  she  said,  "  was  once  your 
father's  friend  and  close  comrade  ;  yet  now  he 
walks  free  and  lives  in  ease,  while  my  poor 
husband  is  in  slavery.  Why  is  it  thus  ?  Be 
cause  he  over  yonder  was  false  to  his  oath,  to 
his  friends,  and  to  his  king.  He  sold  them 
all,  like  Esau,  for  a  mess  of  pottage.  Mark 
him  well,  my  child,  and  beware  of  his  like  ;  for 
in  these  days  they  are  not  a  few,  and  woe  to 
any  who  trust  in  them  !  " 

I  remembered  those  words  of  my  mother 
when  the  Sefior  Don  Pedro  de  Melinza  y  de 
Colis  made  his  bow  to  us  that  summer's  day. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         27 

The  meaning  of  his  courtly  phrases  was  lost 
upon  me ;  but  I  gathered  from  his  manner 
that  he  had  come  in  the  guise  of  a  friend, — 
and  I  trembled  at  the  prospect  of  such  friend 
ship. 

Nevertheless  I  was  right  glad  when  the 
fetters  were  struck  from  my  dear  love  and  his 
companions,  and  we  were  taken  upon  the 
Spanish  galley  and  served  like  Christians. 

At  the  earliest  opportunity  Mr.  Rivers 
hastened  to  make  things  clear  to  me.  "  Our 
deliverer" —  so  he  termed  him,  whereat  I 
marvelled  somewhat, — "  our  deliverer  assures 
me  that  Padre  Ignacio's  action  is  condemned 
greatly  by  his  uncle,  Sefior  de  Colis,  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Captain-General  at  San  Augustin. 
Don  Pedro  has  been  sent  to  transport  us 
thither,  where  we  will  be  entertained  with 
some  fitness  until  we  can  communicate  with 
,our  friends." 

"  Says  he  so  ?  'Twill  be  well  if  he  keeps  his 
word  ;  but  to  my  thinking  he  has  not  the 
face  of  an  honest  man." 

Mr.  Rivers  looked  at  me  gravely.  "  That 
is  a  hard  speech  from  such  gentle  lips,"  he 
said.  "  Don  Pedro  is  a  Spanish  gentleman  of 
high  lineage.  His  uncle,  Seftor  de  Colis,  is  a 
knight  of  the  Order  of  St.  James.  Such  hold 
their  honour  dear.  Until  he  gives  us  cause  to 


28         THE  STORY  OP  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

distrust  him,  let  us  have  the  grace  to  believe 
that  he  is  an  honest  man." 

I  looked  back  into  the  frank  gray  eyes  of 
my  true  and  gallant  love,  and  I  felt  rebuked. 
'Twas  a  woman's  instinct,  only,  that  made  me 
doubt  the  Spaniard  \  and  this  simple  trust  of 
a  noble  nature  in  the  integrity  of  his  fellow 
man  seemed  a  vastly  finer  instinct  than  my 
own. 

From  that  moment  I  laid  by  my  suspicions, 
and  met  the  courteous  advances  of  Seflor  de 
Melinza  with  as  much  of  graciousness  as  I 
knew  how.  But,  as  we  spoke  for  the  most 
part  in  different  tongues,  little  conversation 
was  possible  to  us. 

I  marvelled  at  the  ease  with  which  Mr. 
Rivers  conversed  in  both  Spanish  and  French. 
Of  the  latter  I  was  not  wholly  ignorant  my 
self, — although  in  my  quiet  country  life  I  had 
had  little  opportunity  of  putting  my  know 
ledge  to  the  test,  seldom  attempting  to  do 
more  than  "  prick  in  some  flowers"  of  foreign 
speech  upon  the  fabric  of  my  mother  tongue  ; 
so  it  was  with  great  timidity  that  I  essayed  at 
first  to  thread  the  mazes  of  an  unfamiliar 
language. 

The  Spaniard,  however,  greeted  my  at 
tempts  with  courteous  comprehension,  and 
after  a  time  I  was  emboldened  to  ask  some 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         29 

questions  concerning  the  town  of  San  Au- 
gustin,  and  to  comment  upon  the  vivid  beauty 
of  the  skies  and  the  blue  waves  around  us. 
Upon  that  he  broke  into  rapturous  praises  of 
his  own  land  of  Spain — "  the  fairest  spot  upon 
the  earth ! "  As  I  listened,  smilingly,  it 
seemed  to  me  that  I  perceived  a  shadow  gath 
ering  upon  the  brow  of  my  dear  love. 

So  far  the  galley  had  depended  solely  upon 
her  oars — of  which  there  were  six  banks,  of 
two  oars  each,  on  either  side, — but  now,  the 
wind  having  freshened,  Don  Pedro  ordered 
her  two  small  lateen  sails  to  be  hoisted. 
While  he  was  giving  these  directions  and 
superintending  their  fulfilment,  Mr.  Rivers 
drew  closer  to  my  side,  saying,  in  a  rapid 
whisper: 

"  You  have  somewhat  misread  me,  sweet 
heart,  in  regard  to  your  demeanour  toward 
our  host.  'Tis  surely  needless  for  you  to  put 
yourself  to  the  pain  of  conversing  with  him  at 
such  length.  " 

Now  it  must  be  remembered  that  in  the  last 
few  hours  our  situation  had  greatly  changed. 
I  had  left  a  dark  and  dirty  hovel  for  a  cush 
ioned  couch  upon  a  breezy  deck.  In  the  tiny 
cabin  which  had  been  placed  at  my  disposal,  I 
had,  with  Barbara's  aid,  rearranged  my  tangled 
locks  and  my  disordered  clothing ;  so  that  I 


30          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

was  no  longer  ashamed  of  my  untidy  appear 
ance.  With  my  outward  transformation  there 
had  come  a  reaction  in  my  spirits,  which 
bounded  upward  to  their  accustomed  level. 

The  salt  air  was  fresh  upon  my  cheek ;  the 
motion  of  our  vessel,  careening  gaily  on  the 
dancing  waves,  was  joyous  and  inspiring.  I 
forgot  that  we  were  sailing  southward,  and 
that,  if  our  English  friends  had  survived  to 
begin  their  intended  settlement,  we  were  leav 
ing  them  farther  and  farther  behind.  My 
thoughts  went  back  to  the  earlier  days  of  our 
journey  over  seas  ;  and  a  flash  of  the  wilful 
mischief,  which  I  thought  had  all  died  from 
my  heart,  rose  suddenly  within  me. 

I  leaned  back  upon  my  cushioned  seat  and 
looked  with  half-veiled  eyes  at  my  gallant 
gentleman. 

"  These  nice  distinctions,  Mr.  Rivers,  are 
too  difficult  for  me,"  I  said.  "  If  this  Spanish 
cavalier  of  high  lineage  and  honest  intentions 
is  worthy  of  any  gratitude,  methinks  a  few 
civil  words  can  scarcely  overpay  him." 

A  heightened  colour  in  the  cheek  of  my  be 
trothed  testified  to  the  warmth  of  his  feelings 
in  the  matter,  as  he  replied  : 

"  You  are  wholly  in  the  right,  my  dearest 
lady  !  If  civil  words  can  cancel  aught  of  our 
indebtedness  I  shall  not  be  sparing  of  them. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         31 

Nevertheless,  permit  me,  I  entreat  you,  to 
assume  the  entire  burden  of  our  gratitude  and 
the  whole  payment  thereof." 

"  Not  so,"  I  rejoined,  with  some  spirit. 
"Despite  our  beggared  fortunes,  I  trust  no 
one  has  ever  found  a  Tudor  bankrupt  in  either 
courtesy  or  gratitude ;  and — by  your  leave, 
sir — I  will  be  no  exception  !  " 

This  I  said,  not  because  I  was  so  mightily 
beholden  to  the  Spaniard  ;  but — shame  upon 
me  ! — because  Mr.  Rivers  had  chosen  to  re 
prove  me,  a  while  since,  for  my  uncharity. 

'Tis  passing  strange  how  we  women  can 
find  pleasure  in  giving  pain  to  the  man  we 
love ;  while  if  he  suffered  from  any  other 
cause  we  would  gladly  die  to  relieve  him  t 
'Twould  seem  a  cruel  trait  in  a  woman's  char 
acter — and  I  do  trust  that  I  am  not  cruel  ! 
But  I  must  admit  that  when  I  greeted  Don 
Pedro,  on  his  return,  with  added  cordiality,  it 
was  nothing  in  his  dark,  eager  countenance 
that  set  my  heart  beating — but  rather  the 
glimpse  I  had  caught  of  a  bitten  lip,  a  knotted 
brow,  and  a  pair  of  woeful  gray  eyes  gazing 
out  to  sea. 

Repentance  came  speedily,  however.  [There 
was  that  in  the  Spaniard's  manner  that  aroused 
my  sleeping  doubts  of  him  ;  and  I  soon  fell 
silent  and  sought  to  be  alone. 


32         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

My  gallant  gentleman  had  withdrawn  him 
self  in  a  pique,  and,  in  the  company  of  old 
Captain  Baulk  and  the  lad  Poole,  seemed  to 
have  wholly  forgotten  my  existence. 

I  made  Dame  Barbara  sit  beside  me,  and, 
feigning  headache,  leaned  my  head  upon  her 
shoulder  and  closed  my  eyes.  The  dame 
rocked  herself  gently  to  and  fro,  and  from 
time  to  time  gave  vent  to  smothered  prayers 
and  doleful  ejaculations  that  set  my  thoughts 
working  upon  my  own  misdoings. 

Through  my  half-shut  eyes  I  saw  the  sun 
go  down  behind  the  strip  of  shore,  and 
watched  the  blue  skies  pale  to  faintest  green 
and  richest  amber.  A  little  flock  of  white 
cloudlets,  swimming  in  the  transparent  depths, 
caught  fire  suddenly  and  changed  to  pink 
flames,  then  glowed  darkly  red  like  burning 
coals,  and  faded,  finally  to  gray  ashes  in  the 
purpling  west. 

"  Lord,  have  mercy  on  our  sinful  hearts  !  " 
groaned  Dame  Barbara  softly. 

"  Amen  !  "  I  sighed,  and  wondered  what 
ailed  mine,  that  it  could  be  so  very  wicked  as 
to  add  to  the  burden  of  anxiety  that  my  dear 
love  had  to  bear  !  A  few  tears  stole  from  un 
der  my  half-closed  lids,  and  I  was  very  miser 
able  and  forlorn,  when  suddenly  I  felt  a  hand 
laid  upon  mine. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         33 

I  looked  up  hastily,  and  saw  the  face  of  my 
gallant  gentleman,  very  grave  and  penitent,  in 
the  fast-deepening  twilight.  My  heart  gave 
a  glad  leap  within  my  bosom  ;  but  I  puckered 
my  lips  woefully  and  heaved  a  mighty  sigh. 

"  Thank  you,  dear  Dame,  for  your  kind 
nursing,"  I  said  to  Barbara.  "  Truly,  I  know 
not  what  I  should  do  without  your  motherly 
comforting  at  times." 

Mr.  Rivers  took  my  hand,  and  drew  me 
gently  away,  saying : 

"  See  what  a  bright  star  hangs  yonder,  above 
the  sombre  shores  !  " 

I  glanced  at  the  glittering  point  of  light, 
and  £then,  over  my  shoulder,  at  the  shadowy 
decks.  The  Spaniard  was  not  in  sight,  and 
only  the  bent  figure  of  the  dame  was  very 
near. 

My  dear  love  raised  my  fingers  to  his  lips. 
"  Forgive  me,  sweetheart,  for  being  so  churl 
ish — but  you  cannot  know  the  fears  that  fill 
me  when  I  see  that  man's  dark  face  gazing 
into  yours,  and  realize  that  we  are  utterly  in 
his  power." 

"  Surely  he  would  not  harm  me  !  "  I  said, 
hastily. 

"  'Tis  that  he  may  learn  to  love  you,"  said 
Mr.  Rivers  gravely. 

"  He  may  spare   himself  the  pain  of  it !  "   I 


34         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

cried.  "  Have  you  not  told  him  that  we  are 
betrothed  ?  " 

"Aye,  love — but  he  may  lose  his  heart  in 
spite  of  that.  What  wonder  if  he  does  ? 
The  miracle  would  be  if  he  could  look  upon 
your  face  unmoved." 

"  Am  I  so  wondrous  pretty,  then?" 

"  Fairer  than  any  woman  living ! "  he  de 
clared.  I  knew  well  enough  it  was  a  tender 
falsehood,  but  since  he  seemed  to  believe  it 
himself  it  was  every  whit  as  satisfactory  as  if 
it  had  been  truth! 

"  Be  comforted,"  I  whispered,  reassuringly. 
"  I  know  very  well  how  to  [make  myself  quite 
homely.  I  have  only  to  pull  all  my  curls  back 
from  my  brow  and  club  them  behind  :  straight 
way  I  will  become  so  old  and  ugly  that  no 
man  would  care  to  look  me  twice  in  the  face. 
Wait  till  to-morrow,  and  you  will  see  !  " 

A  laugh  broke  from  Mr.  Rivers's  lips,  and 
then  he  sighed  heavily. 

"  Nay,  sweetheart,  if  it  be  the  head-dress 
you  assumed  one  day  some  months  ago  for 
my  peculiar  punishment,  I  pray  you  will 
not  try  its  efficacy  on  the  Spaniard  ;  for  it 
serves  but  to  make  you  the  more  irresistible.  " 

But  already  I  have  dwelt  longer  upon  my 
self  and  my  own  feelings  than  is  needful  for 
the  telling  of  my  tale.  I  must  hasten  on  to 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         35 

those  happenings  that  more  nearly  concerned 
Mr.  Rivers.  Yet,  in  looking  backward,  I  find 
it  hard  to  tear  my  thoughts  from  the  memory 
of  that  last  hour  of  quiet  converse  with  my 
dear  love,  under  the  starlit  southern  skies. 
How  seldom  we  realize  our  moments  of  great 
happiness  until  after  they  have  slipped  away ! 
It  seemed  to  me  then  that  we  were  in  the 
shadow  of  a  dark-winged  host  of  fears ;  but 
now  I  know  that  it  served  only  to  make  our 
mutual  faith  burn  the  more  brightly. 

I  did  not,  thereafter,  neglect  Mr.  Rivers's 
warning,  and  avoided  the  Spaniard  as  much  as 
possible.  My  dear  love  lingered  always  at 
my  elbow,  and  replied  for  me,  in  easy  Spanish, 
to  all  the  courteous  speeches  of  Don  Pedro. 

Sometimes  I  think  it  would  have  been  far 
better  had  he  left  me  to  follow  my  own  course. 
There  are  some  men  who  need  only  a  hint  of 
rivalry  to  spur  them  on  where  of  their  own 
choice  they  had  never  thought  to  adventure. 
Melinza's  attentions  did  not  diminish,  while  his 
manner  toward  Mr.  Rivers  lost  in  cordiality  as 
time  went  on. 


CHAPTER  V. 

AMONG  the  Spaniard's  followers  was  a 
young  mulatto  whom  he  called  "Tomas." 
Very  tall  and  slight  of  figure  was  he,  yet 
sinewy  and  strong,  with  corded  muscles  twining 
under  the  brown  skin  of  his  lean  young  limbs. 
He  wore  a  loose  shirt,  open  at  the  throat, 
with  sleeves  uprolled  to  the  shoulder;  and 
his  short,  full  trousers  reached  barely  to  the 
knee. 

I  was  admiring  the  agile  grace  of  the  lad 
as  he  bestirred  himself  upon  the  deck  the  last 
morning  of  our  voyage.  With  him  young 
Poole  (clothed  once  more  like  a  Christian,  in 
borrowed  garments)  was  engaged  in  the  task 
of  shifting  a  great  coil  of  rope  ;  and  the  sturdy, 
fair-skinned  English  youth  was  a  pretty  con 
trast  to  the  other. 

Don  Pedro  was  standing  near  to  Mr.  Rivers 
and  myself,  and  his  eyes  took  the  same  direc 
tion  as  our  own. 

"  They  are  well  matched  in  size,"  said  he, 
pointing  to  the  lads.  "  Let  us  see  which  can 
bear  off  the  palm  for  strength."  He  called  out  a 
few  words  in  Spanish  to  the  young  mulatto,  who 


448050 


38    THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

raised  his  dark  head — curled  over  with  shiny 
rings  of  coal-black  hair — and  showed  a  gleam 
ing  row  of  white  teeth  as  he  turned  his  smiling 
face  toward  his  master. 

Mr.  Rivers  spoke  a  word  to  Poole,  and  the 
boy  blushed  from  brow  to  neck,  and  his  blue 
eyes  fell  sheepishly ;  but  he  stood  up  against 
the  other  with  a  right  good  will,  and  there 
was  not  a  hair's  difference  in  their  height. 

At  a  signal  from  Don  Pedro  the  lads 
grappled  with  each  other ;  the  brown  and  ruddy 
limbs  were  close  entwined,  and  with  bare  feet 
gripping  the  decks  they  swayed  back  and 
forth  like  twin  saplings  caught  in  a  gale. 

In  the  first  onset  the  mulatto  had  the  best 
of  it;  his  lithe  dark  limbs  coiled  about  his 
adversary  with  paralyzing  force :  but  soon 
the  greater  weight  of  the  English  youth  began 
to  tell ;  his  young,  well-knit  figure  straightened 
and  grew  tense. 

I  saw  a  sudden  snarl  upon  the  other's 
upturned  face.  His  short,  thick  upper  lip 
curled  back  upon  his  teeth  as  a  dog's  will 
when  in  anger.  He  rolled  his  eyes  in  the 
direction  of  his  master,  who  threw  him  a  con 
temptuous  curse.  Stung  into  sudden  rage,  the 
mulatto  thrust  forth  his  head  and  sank  his 
sharp  white  teeth  in  the  shoulder  of  young 
Poole. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         39 

There  was  a  startled  cry,  and  the  English 
youth  loosened  his  grasp.  In  another  moment 
the  two  figures  rolled  upon  the  deck,  and  the 
flaxen  head  was  undermost. 

"  Foul  play ! "  cried  Mr.  Rivers,  springing 
forward  to  tear  the  lads  apart ;  for  now  the 
mulatto's  fingers  were  at  his  opponent's 
throat. 

Melinza's  hand  flew  to  his  sword  ;  with  a 
volley  of  oaths  he  interposed  the  shining  blade 
between  Mr.  Rivers  and  the  writhing  figures 
on  the  floor.  Quick  as  thought  another  blade 
flashed  from  its  sheath,  and  the  angerful  gray 
eyes  of  my  betrothed  burned  in  indignant 
challenge. 

I  had  looked  on  in  dumb  amaze  ;  but  at  the 
sight  of  the  naked  weapons  I  screamed  aloud. 

Instantly  the  two  men  seemed  to  recollect 
themselves.  They  drew  back  and  eyed  each 
other  coldly. 

"  Hasta  conveniente  ocasion,  caballero  !  " 
said  the  Spaniard,  returning  his  sword  to  its 
scabbard,  and  bowing  low. 

"A  la  disposition  de  vuestra  senoria,  Don 
Pedro,"  replied  my  betrothed,  following  his 
example. 

And  I,  listening,  but  knowing  no  word  of 
the  language,  believed  that  an  apology  had 
passed  between  them  ! 


X 


40          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

The  scuffle  on  the  deck  had  ceased  when 
the  swords  clashed  forth,  and  the.  lads  had 
risen  to  their  feet.  Melinza  turned  now  to 
young  Tomas  and  struck  him  a  sharp  blow  on 
the  cheek. 

"  Away  with  you  both  !  "  said  the  gesture 
of  his  impatient  arm  ;  but  I  believe  his  tongue 
uttered  naught  but  curses. 

All  of  our  English  had  appeared  upon  the 
deck,  and  when  Melinza  strode,  past  them 
with  a  scowl  still  upon  his  brow  they  ex 
changed  meaning  glances.  Captain  Baulk 
shook  his  grizzled  head  as  he  approached 
us. 

"  What  have  I  always  said,  Mr.  Rivers" 

he  began  ;  but  my  betrothed  looked  toward  me 
and  laid  a  finger  on  his  lip.  Afterward  they 
drew  apart  and  conversed  in  whispers.  What 
they  said,  I  never  knew;  for  when  Mr.  Rivers 
returned  to  my  side  he  spoke  of  naught  but 
the  dolphins  sporting  in  the  blue  waters,  and 
the  chances  of  our  reaching  San  Augustin  ere 
nightfall. 

"  So,"  I  thought,  "  I  am  no  longer  to  be  a 
sharer  in  their  discussions,  in  their  hopes  or 
fears.  I  am  but  a  very  child,  to  be  watched 
over  and  amused,  to  be  wiled  away  from 
danger  with  a  sweetmeat  or  a  toy !  And 
truly,  I  have  deserved  to  be  treated  thus.  But 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          41 

now  'tis  time  for  me  to  put  away  childish 
things  and  prove  myself  a  woman." 

I  had  the  wit,  however,  not  to  make  known 
my  resolutions,  nor  to  insist  on  sharing  his 
confidence.  I  leaned  over  the  vessel's  side 
and  watched  the  silver  flashing  of  the  two 
long  lines  of  oars  as  they  cut  the  waves,  and  I 
held  my  peace.  But  in  my  heart  there  was 
tumult.  I  had  seen  the  glitter  of  a  sword 
held  in  my  dear  love's  face  ! — and  I  grew  cold 
at  the  memory.  I  had  coquetted  with  the 
man  whose  sword  it  was  ! — and  that  thought 
sent  hot  surges  over  my  whole  body.  I  shut 
my  eyes  and  wished  God  had  made  them  less 
blue  ;  I  bit  my  lip  because  it  was  so  red.  I 
had  not  thought,  till  now,  that  my  fair  face 
might  bring  danger  on  my  beloved. 

He  stood  at  my  side,  so  handsome  and  so 
debonair  ;  a  goodly  man  to  look  upon  and  a 
loyal  heart  to  trust ;  not  over-fervent  in  mat 
ters  of  religion,  yet  never  soiling  his  lips  with 
a  coarse  oath,  or  his  honour  with  a  lie  !  As  I 
glanced  up  at  him,  and  he  bent  down  toward 
me,  I  suddenly  recalled  the  disloyal  caution  of 
our  father  Abraham  when  he  journeyed  in  the 
land  of  strangers ;  and  I  thought :  "  Surely 
must  God  honour  a  man  who  is  true  to  his  love 
at  any  cost  of  danger !  " 

So  passed  the  day. 


42      THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

It  was  evening  when  we  crossed  the  bar  and 
entered  Matanzas  Bay.  The  setting  sun  cast 
a  crimson  glow  over  the  waters  ;  I  thought  of 
the  blood  of  the  French  martyrs  that  once 
stained  these  waves,  and  I  shuddered. 

Outlined  against  the  western  sky  was  the 
town  of  San  Augustin, — square  walls  and  low, 
flat  roofs  built  along  a  low,  green  shore.  The 
watch-tower  of  the  castle  fort  rose  up  in 
menace  as  we  came  nearer. 

Upon  the  deck  of  the  Spanish  galley,  hand 
in  hand,  stood  my  love  and  I. 

"  Yonder  is our  destination,"  said  Mr. 

Rivers. 

"  Our  prison,  you  would  say,"  I  answered 
him,  "  and  so  I  think  also.  Nevertheless,  I 
would  rather  stand  here,  at  your  side,  than 
anywhere  else  in  this  wide  world — alone  !  " 

He  smiled  and  raised  my  ringers  to  his  lips. 
"  Verily,  dear  lady,  so  would  I  also." 

There  was  a  rattle  of  heavy  chains,  and  a 
loud  plash  as  the  anchor  slipped  down  in  the 
darkening  waters. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WE  were  received  by  the  Spanish  Governor 
immediately  after  our  landing. 

I  had  already  pictured  him,  in  my  thoughts, 
as  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  with  keen, 
dark  eyes  set  in  a  stern  countenance  ;  crisp, 
curling  locks — such  as  Melinza's — but  silvered 
lightly  on  the  temples ;  an  air  of  potency,  of 
fire,  as  though  his  bold  spirit  defied  the  heavy 
hand  of  time. 

'Twas  therefore  a  matter  of  great  surprise 
to  me — and  some  relief — when,  instead,  I 
beheld  advancing  toward  us  a  spare  little 
figure  with  snow-white  hair  and  a  pallid  face. 
His  small  blue  eyes  blinked  upon  us  with  a 
watery  stare ;  his  flabby  cheeks  were  seamed 
with  wrinkles,  and  his  tremulous  lips  twitched 
and  writhed  in  the  shadowy  semblance  of  a 
smile  :  there  was  naught  about  him  to  suggest 
either  the  soldier  or  the  man  of  parts. 

He  was  attired  with  some  pretension,  in  a 
doublet  of  purple  velvet  with  sleeves  of  a 
lighter  color.  His  short,  full  trousers  were 
garnished  at  the  knee  with  immense  roses; 


44          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

his  shrunken  nether  limbs  were  cased  in  silken 
hose  of  a  pale  lavender  hue,  and  silver  buckles 
fastened  the  tufted  purple  ribbons  on  his 
shoes.  On  his  breast  was  the  red  cross  of  St. 
James — patent  of  nobility;  had  it  not  been 
for  that  and  his  fine  attire  he  might  have 
passed  for  a  blear-eyed  and  decrepit  tailor 
from  Haberdashery  Lane. 

I  plucked  up  heart  at  the  sight  of  this  little 
manikin. 

"Can  this  be  the  Governor  and  Captain- 
General  of  San  Augustin  ?  "  I  whispered  in  the 
ear  of  my  betrothed. 

"  Tis  not  at  the  court  of  our  Charles  only 
that  kissing,  or  promotion,  goes  by  favour ! " 
was  his  answer,  in  a  quick  aside.  Then  he  met 
the  advancing  dignitary  and  responded  with 
grave  punctilio  to  the  suave  welcome  that  was 
accorded  us. 

Melinza's  part  was  that  of  master  of  cere 
monies  on  this  occasion.  He  appeared  to 
have  laid  aside  his  rancour,  and  his  handsome 
olive  countenance  was  lightened  with  an  ex 
pression  of  great  benignance  when  he  presented 
me  to  the  Governor  as — "  the  honourable  and 
distinguished  senorita  Dona  Margarita  de 
Tudor'' 

I  looked  up  at  Mr.  Rivers  with  an  involun 
tary  smile. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         45 

"  My  betrothed,  your  Excellency,"  he  said 
simply,  taking  me  by  the  hand. 

The  blear-eyed  Governor  made  me  a  compli 
ment,  with  a  wrinkled  hand  upon  his  heart.  I 
understood  no  word  of  it,  and  he  spoke  no 
French,  so  Mr.  Rivers  relieved  the  situation 
with  his  usual  ease. 

This  audience  had  been  held  in  the  court 
yard  of  the  castle,  which  is  a  place  of  great 
strength, — being,  in  effect,  a  square  fort  built 
of  stone,  covering  about  an  acre  of  ground, 
and  garrisoned  by  more  than  three  hundred 
men. 

We  stood  in  a  little  group  beneath  a  dim 
lamp  that  hung  in  a  carved  portico  which 
appeared  to  be  the  entrance  to  a  chapel. 
Captain  Baulk  and  the  rest  were  a  little  aloof 
from  us  ;  and  all  around,  at  the  open  doors  of 
the  casemates,  lurked  many  of  the  swarthy 
soldiery. 

Suddenly  light  footsteps  sounded  on  the 
flagged  pavement  of  the  chapel  in  our  rear,  and 
a  tall,  graceful  woman  stepped  forth  and  laid 
her  hand  upon  my  shoulder.  Through  the 
delicate  folds  of  black,  filmy  lace  veiling  her 
head  and  shoulders  gleamed  a  pair  of  luminous 
eyes  that  burned  me  with  their  gaze. 

She  waved  aside  the  salutations  of  the  two 
Spaniards  and  spoke  directly  to  me  in  a  rich, 


46          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

low  voice.  The  sight  of  a  woman  was  so 
welcome  to  me  that  I  held  out  both  hands  in 
eager  response ;  but  she  made  no  move  to 
take  them  :  her  bright  eyes  scanned  the  faces 
of  our  party,  lingering  on  that  of  my  be 
trothed,  to  whom  she  next  addressed  herself, 
with  a  little  careless  gesture  of  her  white  hand 
in  my  direction. 

Mr.  Rivers  bowed  low,  and  said,  in  French  : 
"  Madame,  I  commend  her  to  your  good  care." 
Then  to  me :  "  Margaret,  the  Governor's  lady 
offers  you  the  protection  of  her  roof." 

His  eyes  bade  me  accept  it,  and  I  turned 
slowly  to  the  imperious  stranger  and  murmured: 
"  Madame,  I  thank  you." 

"  So  !  she  exclaimed,  "  you  can  speak,  then  ? 
You  are  not  dumb  ?  I  had  thought  it  was  a 
pretty  waxen  effigy  of  Our  Lady,  for  the  padre 
here,"  and  she  laughed  mockingly,  with  a  glance 
over  her  shoulder. 

Another  had  joined  our  group,  but  his  bare 
feet  had  sounded  no  warning  tread.  The  sight 
of  the  coarse  habit  and  the  tonsured  head 
struck  a  chill  through  me.  Two  sombre  eyes 
held  mine  for  a  moment,  then  their  owner 
turned  silently  away  and  re-entered  the  chapel 
door. 

Melinza  was  standing  by,  with  a  gathering 
frown  on  his  forehead. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         47 

"  Such  condescension  on  your  part,  Dona  Oro- 
sia,  is  needless.  We  can  provide  accommoda 
tions  for  all  our  English  guests  here  in  the 
castle." 

"  What !  Would  Don  Pedro  stoop  to  trick 
out  a  lady's  boudoir? — Nay,  she  would  die  of 
the  horrors  within  these  gloomy  walls.  Come 
with  me,  child,  I  can  furnish  better  entertain 
ment." 

I  turned  hastily  toward  my  dear  love. 

"  Go  !  "  said  his  eyes  to  me. 

Then  I  thought  of  Barbara,  and  very  timidly 
I  asked  leave  to  keep  her  by  me. 

"  She  may  follow  us,"  said  the  Governor's 
lady  carelessly,  and  sharply  clapped  her  hands. 
Two  runners  appeared,  bearing  a  closed  chair, 
and  set  it  down  before  us. 

"  Enter,"  said  my  self-elected  guardian. 
"  You  are  so  slight  there  is  room  for  us  both." 

In  dazed  fashion  I  obeyed  her,  and  then  she 
followed  me. 

I  thought  I  should  be  crushed  in  the  narrow 
space,  and  the  idea  of  being  thus  suddenly 
torn  away  from  my  betrothed  filled  me  with 
terror.  I  made  a  desperate  effort  to  spring 
out  again  ;  but  a  soft,  strong  hand  gripped  my 
arm  and  held  me  still,  and  in  a  moment  we 
were  borne  swiftly  away  from  the  courtyard 
into  the  dark  without. 


48          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

I  wrung  my  hands  bitterly,  and  burst  into 
tears. 

"  O  cielos  !  what  have  we  here  ?  "  cried  the 
rich  voice,  petulantly.  "  Tis  not  a  waxen 
saint,  after  all,  but  a  living  fountain  !  Do  not 
drown  me,  I  pray  you.  What  is  there  to  weep 
for?  Art  afraid,  little  fool?  See,  I  am  but  a 
woman,  not  an  ogress." 

But  'twas  not  alone  for  myself  that  I  feared : 
the  thought  of  my  dear  love  in  Melinza's 
power  terrified  me  more  than  aught  else, — yet 
I  dared  not  put  my  suspicions  into  words.  I 
tried  hard  to  control  my  voice  as  I  implored 
that  I  might  be  taken  back  to  the  fort  and  to 
Mr.  Rivers. 

"  Is  it  for  the  Englishman,  or  Melinza,  that 
you  are  weeping?"  demanded  my  companion 
sharply. 

"  Madame  !  "  I  retorted,  with  indignation, 
"  Mr.  Rivers  is  my  betrothed  husband.'' 

"  Good  cause  for  affliction,  doubtless,"  she 
replied,  "but  spare  me  your  lamentations. 
Nay,  you  may  not  return  to  the  fort.  'Tis  no 
fit  place  for  an  honest  woman, — and  you  seem 
too  much  a  fool  to  be  aught  else.  Here,  we 
have  arrived " 

She  pushed  me  out  upon  the  unpaved  street, 
then  dragged  me  through  an  open  doorway, 
across  a  narrow  court  filled  with  blooming 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.  49 

plants,  and  into  a  lighted  room  furnished  with 
rich  hangings,  and  chairs,  tables,  and  cabinets 
of  fine  workmanship. 

I  gazed  around  me  in  wonder  and  confusion 
of  mind. 

"  How  does  it  please  your  pretty  saintship  ? 
'Tis  something  better  than  either  Padre  Igna- 
cio's  hut  or  Melinza's  galley,  is  it  not  ?  Are 
you  content  to  remain  ?  " 

"  Madame,"  I  said  desperately,  "  do  with  me 
what  you  will ;  only  see,  I  pray  you,  that  my 
betrothed  comes  to  no  harm." 

"What  should  harm  him,"  she  demanded. 
"  Is  he  not  the  guest  of  my  husband  ?  " 

"  His  guest,  madame,  or  his  prisoner?  " 

She  gave  me  a  keen  glance.  "  Whichever  r61e 
he  may  have  the  wit — or  the  folly — to  play." 

I  wrung  my  hands  again.  "  Madame, 
madame,  do  not  trifle  with  me  !  " 

"  Child,  what  should  make  thee  so  afraid  ?  " 

I  hesitated,  then  exclaimed  :  "  Senor  de  Mel- 
inza  bears  him  no  good  will — he  may  strive  to 
prejudice  your  husband  !  " 

The  Governor's  wife  looked  intently  at  me. 
"  Why  should  Melinzahave  aught  against  your 
Englishman?" 

I  could  not  answer, — perhaps  I  had  been  a 
fool  to  speak.  I  dropped  my  face  in  my  hands, 
silently. 


SO          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

Dona  Orosia  leaned  forward  and  took  me  by 
the  wrists.  "  Look  at  me  !  "  she  said. 

Timidly  I  raised  my  eyes,  and  she  studied 
my  countenance  for  a  long  minute. 

"  'Tis  absurd,"  she  said  then,  and  pushed 

me  aside.  "  Tis  impossible !  And  yet a 

new  face,  a  new  face  and  passably  pretty. 
Oh,  my  God,  these  men  !  are  they  worth  one 
real  heart  pang?  Tell  me,"  she  cried,  fiercely, 
and  shook  me  roughly  by  the  shoulder,  "has 
Melinza  made  love  to  you  already  ?  " 

"  Never,  madame,  never ! "  I  answered 
quickly,  frightened  by  her  vehemence.  "  In 
deed,  their  quarrel  did  not  concern  me.  'Twas 
about  two  lads  that  had  a  wrestling-match 
upon  the  galley.  And  although  they  were 
both  angered  at  the  time,  there  may  be  no  ill 
feeling  between  them  now.  I  was  foolish  to 
speak  of  it.  Forget  my  imprudence,  I  pray 
you  ! " 

But  her  face  remained  thoughtful.  "  Tell 
me  the  whole  story,"  she  said  ;  and  when  I 
had  done  so  she  was  silent. 

I  sat  and  watched  her  anxiously.  She  was  a 
beautiful  woman,  with  a  wealth  of  dark  hair, 
a  richly  tinted  cheek,  glorious  eyes,  and  a 
small,  soft,  red-lipped,  passionate  mouth — 
folded  close,  at  that  moment,  in  a  scornful 
curve. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          51 

Suddenly  she  rose  and  touched  a  bell.  A 
young  negress  answered  the  summons.  Dofla 
Orosia  spoke  a  few  rapid  words  to  her  in 
Spanish,  then  turned  coldly  to  me. 

"  Go  with  her ;  she  will  show  you  to  your 
apartment,  and  your  woman  will  attend  you 
there  later  on.  You  must  be  too  weary  to 
night  to  join  us  at  a  formal  meal,  and  your 
wardrobe  must  be  somewhat  in  need  of 
replenishing.  To-morrow  you  shall  have  what 
ever  you  require.  I  bid  you  goodnight!" — 
and  she  dismissed  me  with  a  haughty  gesture 
of  her  white  hand. 

The  chamber  that  had  been  assigned  to  me 
— which  I  was  glad  to  share  with  the  good 
Dame  Barbara — was  long  and  narrow.  There 
was  a  window  at  one  end  that  gave  upon  the 
sea ;  and  through  the  heavy  barred  grating, 
set  strongly  in  the  thick  casement,  I  could  look 
out  upon  the  low  sea-wall,  and,  beyond  that, 
at  the  smooth  bosom  of  the  dreaming  ocean, 
heaving  softly  in  the  quiet  starlight,  as  though 
such  a  sorrow  lay  hidden  in  its  deep  heart  as 
troubled  even  its  sleep  with  sighs. 

If  I  pressed  my  face  close  against  the  bars 
I  could  see,  to  the  left  of  me,  the  ramparts  of 
the  castle,  where  my  dear  love  was.  The  slow 
tears  rose  in  my  eyes  as  I  thought  that  this 
night  the  same  roof  would  not  shelter  us,  nor 


52          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

would  there  be  the  same  swaying  deck  beneath 
our  feet. 

While  we  had  been  together  no  very  real 
sense  of  danger  had  oppressed  me  ;  but  from 
the  first  hour  of  our  parting  my  heart  grew 
heavier  with  forebodings  of  the  evil  and 
sorrow  which  were  yet  to  come. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

AT  first  all  seemed  to  go  well  enough. 
The  Governor's  lady  was  fairly  gracious  to 
me;  old  Senor  de  Colis  was  profuse  in  his 
leering  smiles  and  wordy  compliments,  none 
of  which  I  could  understand ;  I  saw  Mr.  Rivers 
and  Melinza  from  time  to  time,  and  they 
seemed  upon  good  terms  with  each  other:  but 
I  did  not  believe  this  state  of  affairs  could 
last, — and  I  was  right  in  my  fears. 

One  night  ('twas  the  twenty-second  of  June, 
and  the  weather  was  sultry  and  oppressive ; 
the  sea  held  its  breath,  and  the  round  moon 
burned  hot  in  the  hazy  sky)  the  evening  meal 
was  served  in  the  little  courtyard  of  the 
Governor's  house,  and  both  Mr.  Rivers  and 
Melinza  were  our  guests. 

This  was  not  the  first  occasion  on  which  we 
had  all  broken  bread  at  the  same  board ;  but 
there  was  now  an  air  of  mockery  in  the 
civilities  of  Melinza, — he  passed  the  salt  to 
my  betrothed  with  a  glance  of  veiled  hostility, 
and  pledged  him  in  a  glass  of  wine  with  a 


54    THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

smile  that  ill  concealed  the  angry  curl  of  his 
sullen  red  lip. 

'Twas  a  strange  meal ;  the  memory  of  it  is 
like  a  picture  stamped  upon  my  brain. 

From  the  tall  brass  candlesticks  upon  the 
table,  the  unflickering  tapers  shone  down 
upon  gleaming  damask  and  glistening  silver, 
and  kindled  sparks  amid  the  diamonds  that 
caught  up  the  folds  of  lace  on  the  dark  head 
of  Dofta  Orosia,  and  that  gemmed  the  white 
fingers  clasping  her  slow-moving  fan.  Hers 
was  a  beauty  that  boldly  challenged  men's  ad 
miration  and  exacted  tribute  of  their  eyes. 
The  white-haired  Governor  paid  it  in  full  mea 
sure,  with  a  fixed  and  watery  gaze  from  be 
neath  his  half-closed  lids,  and  a  senile  smile 
lurking  under  his  waxed  moustache.  But 
whenever  I  glanced  upward  I  met  the  eyes 
of  Mr.  Rivers  and  Don  Pedro  turned  upon 
me  ;  and  I  felt  a  strange  thrill  made  up,  in 
part,  of  triumph  that  my  dear  love  was  not  to 
be  won  from  his  allegiance,  and  in  part  of  ter 
ror  because  there  was  that  in  the  Spaniard's 
gaze  that  betokened  a  nature  ruled  wholly  by  its 
hot  passions  and  a  will  to  win  what  it  craved 
by  fair  means  or  by  foul. 

I  could  eat  little  for  the  heat  and  the  pun 
gent  flavour  of  strange  sauces,  so  I  dallied 
with  my  plate  only  as  an  excuse  for  lowered 


TO  THE  BRIGHTEST  EYES  AND  THE  LIPS  MOST  WORTHY 

OF  KISSES!  " — Page  jf. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          55 

eyes  ;  and,  although  I  listened  all  the  while 
with  strained  attention,  the  talk  ran  by  too 
swiftly  for  me  to  grasp  any  of  its  meaning. 

But  Dona  Orosia  was  neither  deaf  nor 
blind  ;  her  keen  black  eyes  had  noted  every 
glance  that  passed  her  by.  With  a  deeper 
flush  on  her  olive  cheek,  and  a  prouder  poise 
of  her  haughty  head,  she  made  to  me  at  last 
the  signal  for  withdrawal. 

The  three  gentlemen,  glasses  in  hand,  rose 
from  their  seats ;  and,  as  we  passed  be 
neath  the  arched  trellis  that  led  away  from 
the  paved  court  into  the  fragrant  garden,  Don 
Pedro  lifted  his  glass  to  his  lips  with  a  ges 
ture  in  our  direction,  and  exclaimed  in 
French : 

"  To  the  fairest  face  in  San  Augustin  !  To 
the  brightest  eyes  and  the  lips  most  worthy  of 
kisses !  May  the  light  of  those  eyes  never  be 
withdrawn  from  these  old  walls,  nor  the  lips 
lack  a  Spanish  blade  to  guard  them  from  all 
trespassers  !  " 

The  Governor,  who  understood  not  the 
French  words,  lifted  his  glass  in  courteous 
imitation  of  his  nephew's  gesture ;  but  Mr. 
Rivers  coloured  hotly  and  set  down  his  upon 
the  table. 

"  I  like  not  your  toast,  Senor  Melinza, 
whichever  way  I  construe  it.  The  face  I  hold 


56          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

fairest  here  shall  leave  San  Augustin  the  day 
that  I  depart ;  and,  since  it  is  the  face  of  my 
promised  wife,  it  needs  no  other  sword  than 
mine  to  fend  off  trespassers  ! '' 

He,  too,  spoke  in  French  ;  and  as  the  words 
passed  his  lips  I  felt  the  soft,  strong  hand  of 
Dona  Orosia  grasp  my  arm  and  drag  me  back 
ward  among  the  screening  vines,  beyond  the 
red  light  of  the  tapers,  where  we  could  listen 
unseen. 

Melinza  was  laughing  softly.  "  Sefior  Riv 
ers  says  he  cannot  construe  my  toast  to  his 
liking ;  but  perhaps  if  I  give  it  him  in  the 
Spanish  tongue  he  may  find  the  interpreta 
tion  more  to  his  taste  !  "  Then  he  lifted  his 
glass  again  and  slowly  repeated  the  words  in 
his  own  language,  with  a  meaning  glance 
toward  the  Governor. 

The  old  man  drained  his  goblet  to  the  dregs, 
and  then  turned  a  flushed  face  upon  the  Eng 
lishman  and  laid  his  hand  upon  his  sword. 

My  dear  love  had  no  thoughts  of  prudence 
left, — for  Melinza's  words  had  been  a  direct 
charge  of  cowardice, — so  for  all  answer  he 
took  the  frail  goblet  from  the  table  and  threw 
it  in  the  younger  Spaniard's  face. 

There  was  a  tinkle  of  broken  glass  upon  the 
stone  pavement,  and  Melinza  wiped  the  red 
wine  from  his  cheek.  Then  he  held  up  the 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         57 

stained  kerchief  before  the  eyes  of  my  dear 
love  and  spoke  a  few  words  in  his  softest 
voice. 

An  angry  smile  flickered  over  the  counte 
nance  of  my  betrothed  ;  he  bowed  stiffly  in 
response. 

The  blear-eyed  Governor  broke  in  hotly, 
with  his  hand  still  upon  his  sword  ;  his  dull 
eyes  narrowed,  and  the  blood  mounted  higher 
in  his  wrinkled  cheek :  but  his  nephew  laid  a 
restraining  hand  upon  his  arm,  and,  with  an 
other  laughing  speech  and  a  profound  bow  to 
Mr.  Rivers,  pointed  toward  the  door. 

I  saw  the  three  of  them  depart  through  the 
passageway  that  led  to  the  street  entrance. 
I  heard  the  creak  of  the  hinges,  and  the  clang 
of  the  bars  as  they  fell  back  into  place.  Then 
a  strong,  sweet  odour  of  crushed  blossoms 
turned  me  faint.  I  loosed  my  hold  of  the 
screening  vines  and  stepped  backward  with  a 
sudden  struggle  for  breath. 

The  woman  beside  me  caught  my  arm  a 
second  time  and  drew  me  still  farther  away 
down  the  moonlit  path. 

"  Is  he  aught  of  a  swordsman,  this  fine  cav 
alier  of  thine  ?  "  she  demanded,  grasping  my 
shoulder  tightly  and  scanning  my  face  with 
her  scornful  eyes. 

Then  my  senses  came  to  me :  I  knew  what 


S&          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

had  happened — what  was  bound  to  follow ; 
and  I  began  to  speak  wildly  and  to  pray  her 
to  prevent  bloodshed  between  them. 

I  scarce  know  what  I  said  ;  but  the  words 
poured  from  my  lips,  and  for  very  despair  I 
checked  them  not.  I  told  her  of  my  orphan 
state — of  that  lone  grave  in  Barbadoes,  and 
the  sad  young  mother  who  had  died  of  a 
broken  heart ;  I  spoke  of  the  long,  long  jour 
ney  over  seas,  the  love  that  had  come  into  my 
life,  and  the  dreams  and  the  hopes  that  had 
filled  our  thoughts  when  we  reached  the  fair, 
strange  shores  of  this  new  country;  and  I 
prayed  her,  as  she  was  a  woman  and  a  wife,  to 
let  no  harm  come  to  my  dear  love. 

"  Ah  !  madame,"  I  cried,  "  a  face  so  fair  as 
yours  needs  not  the  championship  of  one 
English  stranger,  who  holds  already  a  prefer 
ence  for  blue  eyes  and  yellow  hair.  I  grant 
you  that  he  has  a  sorry  taste  ;  but  oh  !  I  pray 
you,  stop  this  duel !  " 

She  loosed  her  hand  from  the  clasp  of  mine, 
and  looked  at  me  a  moment  in  silence  ;  then 
she  laughed  bitterly. 

"Thou  little  fool!  Thou  little  blue-eyed 
fool !  What  do  men  see  in  that  face  of  thine 
to  move  them  so  ?  A  painter  might  love  thee 
for  the  gold  of  thy  hair,  thy  white  brow,  and 
thy  blue  eyes, — they  would  grace  a  pictured 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         $9 

saint  above  a  shrine, — but  for  a  man's  kisses, 
and  such  love  as  might  tempt  him  to  risk  his 
very  life  for  thee, — cielos  !  it  is  more  than  pass 
ing  strange."  Then,  as  I  stood  dumb  before 
her,  she  tapped  me  lightly  on  the  cheek. 
"  Go  to !  Art  such  a  fool  as  to  think  that  either 
sword  will  be  drawn  for  my  beauty's  sake  ?  " 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THAT  night  I  had  but  little  sleep. 

About  an  hour  after  midnight  there  was  a 
great  stir  in  the  house  and  the  sound  of  open 
ing  doors  and  hurrying  footsteps.  The  un 
wonted  noises  terrified  me.  I  leaned  against 
the  door,  with  a  heart  beating  thickly,  and  I 
listened.  What  evil  tidings  did  those  sounds 
portend?  There  was  a  loud  outcry  in  a 
woman's  voice, — the  voice  of  Dona  Orosia. 

I  felt  that  I  must  know  what  havoc  Fate 
had  wrought  in  the  last  hours.  I  looked  at 
Barbara — she  slumbered  peacefully  on  her 
hard  pallet ;  the  moonlight,  streaming  through 
the  barred  window,  showed  me  her  withered 
face  relaxed  in  almost  childlike  peacefulness. 
I  would  not  rouse  her, — 'twas  a  blessed  thing 
to  sleep  and  forget ;  but  7  dared  not  sleep,  for 
I  knew  not  what  would  be  the  horror  of  my 
waking.  With  my  cheek  pressed  close  against 
the  door  I  waited  a  moment  longer.  Perhaps 
only  those  planks  intervened  'twixt  me  and 
my  life's  tragedy ! 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         61 

I  laid  my  hand  upon  the  latch.  I  feared  to 
know  the  truth, — and  yet,  if  I  did  not  hear  it, 
I  must  die  of  dread.  Slowly  I  turned  the  key 
and  raised  the  bars :  the  door  swung  open. 

I  stepped  out  upon  the  balcony  that  over 
hung  the  court  and  I  looked  over.  There  was 
no  one  in  sight ;  the  white  moonlight  lay  over 
everything,  and  a  strong  perfume  floated  up 
from  the  flowers  in  the  garden  beyond. 

I  crept  down  the  stair  and  stood  still  in  the 
centre  of  the  empty  court.  Voices  sounded 
near  me,  but  I  knew  not  whence  they  came. 
Trembling  still,  I  moved  toward  the  passage 
that  led  to  the  outer  door,  and  I  saw  that  it 
was  bright  as  day.  The  door  stood  ajar. 
Those  who  had  last  gone  out  had  been 
strangely  forgetful — or  greatly  agitated. 

Scarce  knowing  what  I  did,  I  crossed  the 
threshold  and  hurried  down  the  street  in  the 
direction  of  the  fort. 

A  group  of  three  men  stood  upon  the  cor 
ner.  At  the  sight  of  them  I  paused  and  hid 
in  the  shadow  of  the  wall ;  but,  one  of  them 
turning  his  face  toward  me,  I  recognized 
Captain  Baulk,  and,  going  quickly  forward,  I 
laid  my  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  How  is  he  ?  Where  have  they  taken 
him  ?  "  I  whispered. 

"  What !  is't  Mistress  Tudor  ?     Have  they 


62          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

turned  you  adrift,  then  ?  Lor'  'tis  a  frail  craft 
to  be  out  o'  harbour  such  foul  weather !  " 

"  How  is  he  ?  "  I  repeated,  tightening  my 
grasp  upon  his  sleeve. 

"  Dead  as  a  pickled  herring,  poor  lad  !  " 

My  head  struck  heavily  against  the  wall  as 
I  fell,  but  I  made  no  outcry. 

"  Sink  me !  but  the  poor  lassie  thought  I 
meant  Mr.  Rivers !  "  I  heard  the  old  sailor 
exclaim  as  he  dropped  on  his  knees  beside 
me, — and  the  words  stayed  my  failing  senses. 

"  Whom  did  you  mean  ?"  I  gasped. 

"Young  Poole  has  been  done  to  death, 
Mistress  Margaret.  As  honest  a  lad  as  ever 
lived,  too, — more's  the  pity  !  " 

I  struggled  to  raise  myself,  crying  :  "  What 
do  you  tell  me  ?  Have  they  killed  the  lad  in 
pure  spite  against  his  master?  And  where  is 
Mr.  Rivers?" 

They  made  me  no  answer. 

"  He  is  dead,  then !  I  knew  it,  my  heart 
told  me  so  !  " 

"  Eh  !  poor  lass  !  Tis  not  so  bad  as  that — 
yet  bad  enough.  They've  hung  chains  enough 
upon  him  to  anchor  a  man-o'-war,  and  moored 
him  fast  in  the  dungeon  of  the  fort.  D — n 
'em  for  a  crew  o'  dastard  furriners ! — an'  he 
own  cousin  to  an  English  earl !  " 

"  Can  you  not  tell  me  a  straight  tale  ?  "  I 


THE  STORY  Of  MARGARET  TUDOR.         63 

cried.  "  What  has  he  done  to  be  so  ill  served  ? 
And  whose  the  enmity  behind  it  all, — 
Melinza's,  or  the  Governor's  ?  " 

"  Lor' !  "  exclaimed  one  of  the  sailors,  "  the 
young  Don  is  past  revenge,  mistress.  If  he 
lives  out  the  night  'tis  more  than  I  look  to 
see." 

"  Here,  now,  let  me  tell  the  tale,  lad,"  the 
old  captain  interposed.  "  'Twas  a  duel  began 
it,  Mistress  Tudor.  The  young  bloods  were 
so  keen  after  fighting  they  could  not  wait  for 
sunrise,  but  must  needs  have  it  out  by  moon 
light  on  the  beach.  'Twas  over  yonder,  in 
the  lee  of  the  castle  walls." 

"  Mr.  Rivers  and  Don  Pedro  ?  " 

"  Aye,  mistress.  The  Governor  was  not 
by, — 'tis  likely  he  knew  naught  of  it." 

"  Not  so !  "  I  cried,  "  he  had  his  share  in  the 
quarrel,  and  they  left  the  house  in  company." 

"  Mayhap,"  said  Captain  Baulk,  "  I'd  not 
gainsay  it — for  I  trust  no  one  o'  them  ;  but 
he  chose  to  go  with  his  weather  eye  shut 
rather  than  take  precaution  'gainst  the  squall. 
So  they  had  it  out  all  by  their  selves, — and 
none  of  us  a  whit  the  wiser,  saving  young 
Poole,  who  had  guessed  somewhat  was  amiss 
and  followed  his  master." 

"  What  then  ?  Speak  quickly !  Was  Mr. 
Rivers  wounded  ?  " 


64         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

"  Not  he  !  That's  to  say,  not  by  any  thrust 
of  the  Don's.  Lor',  but  it  must  ha'  been  a 
pretty  fight !  Pity  no  man  saw  it  that  lives  to 
tell  !  " 

"  In  the  name  of  mercy,  sir,  speak  plainly !  " 
"  Aye,  my  young  mistress,  but  give  me  time 
an'  I  will.  Mr.  Rivers  ere  long  did  get  in 
such  a  thrust  that  the  Don  went  down  before 
it  as  suddenly  as  a  ship  with  all  her  hull  stove 
in.  He  lay  stranded,  with  the  blood  flowing 
away  in  a  dark  stream  over  the  white  sands. 
Our  young  gentleman,  gallant  heart,  did  throw 
away  his  sword  and  fall  down  beside  the 
Spaniard  and  strive  to  staunch  his  wounds, 
crying  aloud  most  lustily  for  aid.  Who  should 
hear  him  but  young  Poole  and  that  yellow 
devil  of  a  Tomas  !  They  came  from  opposite 
quarters,  and  Poole  was  in  the  shadow,  so  the 
other  saw  him  not.  The  mulatto  ran  up  along 
side,  and,  seeing  'twas  the  Don  who  had  fallen, 
he  whipped  out  a  knife  from  his  belt  and 
struck  at  our  young  master  as  he  knelt  there 
on  the  ground.  Nay,  now,  do  not  take  on  so  ! 
Did  I  not  say  he  was  but  little  hurt  ?  Had  the 
blow  struck  him  fairly  in  the  back,  as  it  was 
meant  to  do,  doubtless  it  would  have  put  an 
end  to  him ;  but  Poole  was  to  the  rescue, 
poor  lad !  He  threw  himself  on  the  mulatto 
in  the  nick  o'  time.  The  knife  had  barely 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.  65 

grazed  Mr.  Rivers  on  the  shoulder;  but  young 
Tomas  never  let  go  his  hold  of  it.  He  and 
the  faithful  lad  rolled  together  on  the  ground 
— and  Poole  never  rose  again.  His  body  was 
stabbed  through  in  a  dozen  places.  Mr. 
Rivers  had  no  time  to  interfere  ;  ere  he  could 
rise  from  his  knees,  or  even  put  out  a  hand  to 
take  his  sword,  a  dozen  soldiers  had  laid  hands 
on  him.  That  devil  of  a  Tomas  finished  his 
evil  work,  and  then  picked  himself  up  and 
walked  away  ;  never  a  one  laid  a  finger  on 
him  or  cried  shame  on  the  foul  deed !  " 

The  old  sailor  paused,  and  each  man  of  the 
group  breathed  a  curse  through  his  clinched 
teeth. 

"  They  have  taken  Mr.  Rivers  to  the  dungeon 
of  the  fort  ?  "  I  whispered. 

"  Aye,  so  they  tell  us.  None  of  us  were 
there,  which  is  perhaps  for  the  good  of  our 
necks, — yet  I  would  we  had  had  a  chance  to 
strike  a  blow  in  defence  of  the  poor  lad." 

"  And  the  Spaniard — Don  Pedro  ?  " 

"  They  carried  him  into  the  Governor's  own 
house  a  while  since.  I  think  his  wound  is 
mortal." 

"  Then  he  has  brought  his  death  upon  him 
self,  for  he  forced  Mr.  Rivers  into  the  quarrel," 
I  declared  hastily. 

"  'Twas  bound  to  come,"   admitted  Captain 


66          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

Baulk,  "  there  has  been  bad  blood  between 
them  from  the  very  first.  But  what  are  we  to 
do  with  you,  mistress?  Did  they  put  you 
out  in  anger  ?  " 

"  Nay,"  I  exclaimed,  "  I  heard  a  great  dis 
turbance  and  hastened  out  to  seek  the  cause. 
The  outer  door  was  left  unbarred." 

"  Why  then,  mistress,  we  would  best  make 
for  it  again  before  'tis  shut !  This  is  no  hour 
and  no  place  for  a  young  maid  to  be  out  alone." 
Taking  me  by  the  hand  he  led  me  back  the 
way  I  had  come  ;  but  we  were  too  late.  The 
entrance  was  closed  and  barred  against  us. 

"  Now,  what's  to  do  ?  "  exclaimed  the  old 
sailor  in  dismay. 

I  had  been  too  crushed  and  dazed  by  the 
ill  news  to  think  before  of  my  imprudence ; 
but  now  I  realized  how  very  unwisely  I  had 
acted.  I  turned  hastily  to  the  old  captain. 

"  Go  and  leave  me,  my  good  friend,"  I  said. 
"Already  there  has  been  enough  trouble  of 
my  making.  Do  not  let  me  have  to  answer 
for  more.  I  will  wait  here  and  call  for  some 
one  to  open  for  me.  'Tis  better  for  me  to  say 
what  is  the  truth — that  I  wandered  out  in  my 
anxiety.  Go,  I  pray  you,  and  be  discrete  in 
your  conduct,  that  they  may  have  no  just 
cause  to  imprison  you  also." 

He  saw  the  wisdom  of  it  and   went  away 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         67 

out  of  sight,  while  I  beat  with  all  my  might 
upon  the  door. 

In  a  moment  steps  sounded  within,  the  bars 
fell,  and  the  door  was  drawn  back.  It  was 
the  Governor  himself  who  stood  there.  He 
looked  at  me  in  astonishment  as  he  drew  aside 
for  me  to  pass. 

I  attempted  no  explanation  ;  for  I  knew  hq 
could  not  understand  me.  Doubtless  hq 
would  tell  his  lady  and  she  would  hold  me  to 
account.  Slowly  I  mounted  to  the  balcony 
above  and  pushed  open  the  door  of  my 
chamber. 

The  dame  still  slept  peacefully.  I  went 
softly  to  the  window  and  knelt  down.  My 
heart  was  sick  for  the  faithful  lad  who  had 
died  in  defending  Mr.  Rivers.  Poor  boy ! 
He  had  no  mother — I  wonder  if  there  was  a 
little  lass  anywhere  whom  he  loved  ?  But  no, 
he  was  young  for  that.  I  think  his  love  was  all 
his  master's.  And  to  die  for  those  whom  we 
love  best  is  not  so  sad  a  fate  as  to  live  for 
their  undoing! 

The  hot  tears  ran  down  my  face.  I  leaned 
my  cheek  against  the  bars  and  set  free  my 
thoughts,  which  flew,  as  swift  as  homing 
pigeons,  to  my  dear  love  in  his  dungeon 
cell. 

Oh !  I  would  that   all   the  prayers  I    pray, 


68          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

and  all  the  tender  thoughts  I  think  of  him, 
had  wings  in  very  truth ;  and  that  after  they 
had  flown  heavenward  they  might  bear 
thence  some  balm,  some  essence  of  divinest 
pity,  to  cheer  him  in  his  loneliness  !  If  it  were 
so,  then  there  would  be  in  never-ending  flight, 
up  from  the  barred  window  where  I  kneel,  and 
downward  to  the  narrow  slit  in  his  prison  wall, 
two  shining  lines  of  fluttering  white  wings 
coming  and  going  all  these  long  nights 
through ! 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MANY  days  have  passed  since  I  began  to 
write  these  pages. 

All  the  morning  after  that  terrible  night, 
with  Barbara  I  waited  fearfully  for  some  mani 
festation  of  Dofta  Orosia's  anger.  But  there 
was  none,  nor  were  we  summoned  out  that 
day.  Food  was  brought  to  us,  and  we  re 
mained  like  prisoners  in  our  chamber.  Don 
Pedro  was  very  low,  the  servant  told  us,  and 
the  Governor's  lady  was  nursing  him. 

A  week  went  by, — the  longest  week  I  had 
ever  known, — and  then  we  heard  that  Melinza 
would  recover.  However,  it  was  not  until  he 
had  lain  ill  a  fortnight  that  Dona  Orosia  came 
to  visit  me. 

I  was  sitting  by  the  window  with  my  head 
upon  my  hand,  and  Barbara  was  putting  some 
stitches  in  the  worn  places  in  her  gown,  when 
the  door  opened  to  admit  my  hostess. 

She  came  straight  toward  me  with  a  glint 
of  anger  in  her  dark  eyes.  The  long  nights 
of  anxious  watching  had  driven  back  the 
blood  from  her  smooth  olive  cheek,  and  the 


70          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

red  lips  showed  the  redder  for  her  unaccus 
tomed  pallor.  She  laid  one  hand  on  my  head, 
tilting  it  backward. 

"  You  little  white-faced  fool !  I  would  you 
had  never  set  foot  in  this  town,"  she  cried 
bitterly. 

"  Ah  !  madame,  I  came  not  of  my  own  free 
will,"  I  answered  her.  "  I  and  my  dear  love 
would  willingly  go  hence,  an  you  gave  us  the 
means  to  do  so  !  " 

"  Tis  likely  that  we  shall,  truly,"  she  replied. 
"  'Tis  likely  that  the  Governor  of  San  Augustin 
will  keep  a  galley  to  ply  up  and  down  the 
coast  for  the  convenience  of  you  English  in 
truders  !  There  came  two  more  of  you  this 
morning,  from  the  friar  at  Santa  Catalina." 

"  Two  more  English  prisoners  !  "  I  exclaimed. 
"  Who  are  they,  madame  ?  " 

"  I  know  not,  and  I  care  not,"  she  said.  "I 
meddle  not  with  things  that  do  not  concern 
me.  I  come  here  now  but  to  hear  how  you 
came  to  be  on  the  streets  at  midnight.  Had 
I  been  in  the  Governor's  place  then,  I  would 
have  shut  the  door  in  your  face." 

I  told  her  the  truth,  as  it  had  happened  to 
me ;  and  when  she  had  heard  it  her  brow  light 
ened  somewhat. 

"  Are  you  deceiving  me  ?  You  did  not  leave 
here  till  after  the  duel  had  taken  place  ?  " 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          71 

"  Madame,"  I  said,  "  I  have  never  yet  told  a 
lie,  and  I  would  not  now  were  it  to  save  my 
life." 

Her  lip  curled  slightly  as  she  turned  to  go. 
"  Stir  not  from  this  room,  then,  until  Don 
Pedro  is  well  enough  to  leave  the  house,"  she 
said.  "  If  I  could  prevent  it  he  should  never 
look  upon  your  face  again."  She  paused  an 
instant,  then  added  :  "  I  will  prevent  it !  " 

"  Amen  to  that !  "  I  said,  and  I  felt  the  blood 
burn  warmly  in  my  cheek. 

She  turned  and  looked  at  me,  and  I  met 
her  gaze  with  defiant  eyes. 

"  Amen  to  that,  madame ! — for  truly  I  hate 
him  with  all  my  heart ! " 

She  stood  still,  a  slow  crimson  rising  in  her 
pale  face,  and  I  trembled  a  little  at  my  own 
daring.  Then,  to  my  surprise,  she  laughed  at 
me. 

"  You  think  that  you  hate  him  desperately  ?  " 
she  exclaimed.  "  Silly  child,  it  is  not  in  thy 
power  to  hate  that  man  as  I  do,  as  I  have  done 
for  years  ! "  and  with  that  she  went  away  and 
left  me  wondering. 


CHAPTER  X. 

JULY,  the  1 6th  day. 

Two  things  have  happened  recently  to  break 
the  sad  monotony  of  my  life  within  these 
walls. 

Dona  Orosia  and  Melinza  have  had  a  disa 
greement,  which  has  resulted  in  his  removal 
hence — at  his  own  demand.  Although  I  know 
nothing  of  the  cause  of  their  quarrel,  Dona 
Orosia's  last  words  to  me,  the  other  day,  make 
it  possible  to  understand  the  man's  reluctance 
to  remain  here  in  her  care, — and  yet  they  say 
it  was  her  nursing  that  saved  his  life  !  I  would 
that  I  could  understand  it  all ! 

Since  his  departure  I  have  had  the  freedom 
of  the  courtyard  and  garden;  and  yesterday, 
by  good  chance,  I  had  speech  with  one  of  the 
newly  arrived  English  prisoners. 

It  had  been  a  day  of  terrible  heat,  and  just 
at  nightfall  I  wandered  out  into  the  garden 
all  alone.  There  is  a  high  wall  to  it,  which  so 
joins  the  dwelling  that  together  they  form  a 
hollow  square.  This  wall  is  of  soft  gray  stone ; 
it  is  of  a  good  thickness,  and  about  a  man's 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          73 

height.  Along  the  top  of  it  sharp  spikes  are 
set ;  and  near  one  corner  is  a  wrought-iron  gate 
of  great  strength,  which  is  kept  securely 
locked. 

It  is  not  often  that  I  venture  near  this  gate, 
for  it  looks  out  upon  the  street,  and  I  care  not 
to  be  seen  by  any  Indian  or  half-breed  Span 
iard  who  might  go  loitering  by ;  but  as  I  stood 
in  the  vine-covered  arbour  in  the  centre  of  the 
garden  I  heard  a  man's  voice  from  the  direc 
tion  of  the  gate,  humming  a  stave  of  a  maritime 
air  that  I  had  heard  sung  oft  and  again  by 
the  sailors  on  the  sloop,  in  which  some  un 
known  fair  one  is  ardently  invited  to — 

" — be  the  Captain's  lady  !  " 

and  I  knew  it  must  be  a  friend.'  So  I  made 
haste  thither  and  peered  out  into  the  street. 

Sure  enough  it  was  old  Captain  Baulk,  and 
with  him  a  gentleman  whose  face,  even  in  the 
twilight,  was  well  known  to  me, — he  being 
none  other  than  Mr.  John  Collins  of  Barbadoes 
( the  same  who  had  given  us  news  of  my  poor 
father's  end,  and  one  of  our  fellow  passengers 
on  the  Three  Brothers). 

They  both  greeted  me  most  kindly  and  in 
quired  earnestly  how  I  did  and  if  I  was  well 
treated.  It  seems  that  for  days  they  had  been 
trying  to  get  speech  with  me,  but  could  find 
none  to  deliver  a  message ;  so  for  two  nights 


74         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

past  they  had  hung  about  the  gate,  hoping 
that  by  chance  I  might  come  out  to  them. 

Mr.  Collins  related  to  me  how  the  sloop  had 
been  sent  back  to  Santa  Catalina  with  letters 
to  the  friar  and  the  Governor  of  San  Augus- 
tin,  demanding  our  release  on  the  ground  that 
as  peace  was  now  subsisting  between  the 
crowns  of  England  and  of  Spain,  and  no  act 
of  hostility  had  been  committed  by  us,  our 
capture  was  unwarrantable.  But  Padre  Igna- 
cio,  with  his  plausible  tongue,  had  beguiled 
them  ashore  into  his  power. 

"  The  man  is  a  very  devil  for  fair  words  and 
smooth  deceits,"  declared  Mr.  Collins.  "  In 
spite  of  all  the  warnings  we  had  received,  some 
of  us  landed  without  first  demanding  hostages 
of  the  Indians ;  and  when  we  would  have  de 
parted  two  of  us  were  forcibly  detained  on 
pretence  of  our  lacking  proper  credentials  to 
prove  our  honesty.  In  sooth  he  charged  us 
with  piratical  intentions,  though  we  had  not 
so  much  as  cracked  a  pistol  or  inveigled  one 
barbarian  aboard.  The  sloop  lingered  for 
three  days,  but  finally  made  off,  leaving  us  in 
the  hands  of  the  padre.  He  despatched  us 
here  in  canoes,  under  a  guard  of  some  twenty 
half-naked  savages,  with  shaven  crowns,  who 
are  no  more  converted  Christians  than  the 
fiends  in  hell !  " 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         75 

I  asked,  then,  for  news  of  my  uncle,  Dr. 
Scrivener,  and  Mr.  Collins  assured  me  that  he 
was  most  anxious  for  my  safety,  and  would 
have  come  back  with  them  to  demand  us  of 
the  friar,  but  he  had  received  a  hurt  in  the 
neck  during  the  attack  at  Santa  Catalina  and 
was  in  no  state  to  travel,  although  the  wound 
was  healing  well — for  which  God  be  thanked  ! 

So  far,  all  the  prisoners,  except  Mr.  Rivers, 
have  the  freedom  of  the  town  ;  but  Captain 
Baulk  declared  he  would  as  lief  be  confined 
within  the  fort. 

"  There  be  scarce  two  honest  men — saving 
ourselves — in  all  San  Augustin,"  he  said. 
"  The  lodging-house  where  we  sleep  is  crowded 
with  dirty,  thieving  half-breeds,  who  would  as 
willingly  slit  a  man's  throat  as  a  pig's.  Though 
they  hold  us  as  guests  against  our  will,  we 
must  e'en  pay  our  own  score ;  and  some  fine 
night — you  mark  me ! — we  shall  find  ourselves 
lacking  our  purses." 

"  Then  the  Governor  will  be  at  the  cost  of 
our  entertainment,"  said  Mr.  Collins. 

"  Twill  be  prison  fare,  sir,"  grunted  the  old 
sailor,  "  and  we'll  be  lucky  if  he  doesn't  find  it 
cheaper  to  heave  us  overboard  and  be  done 
with  it !  " 

"  Tut!  man, — hold  your  croaking  tongue  in 
the  poor  young  lady's  presence,  "  whispered 


j6         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOK. 

Mr.  Collins  ;  but  I  heard  what  he  said,  and  bade 
him  tell  us  our  true  case  and  what  real  hope 
there  was  of  our  liberation. 

"  There  is  every  certainty,"  he  said.  "  When 
word  reaches  their  Lordships  in  England,  they 
will  not  fail  to  make  complaint  to  the  Spanish 
Council, — and  they  have  no  just  cause  for  refus 
ing  to  set  us  free.  But  I  trust  we  shall  not 
have  to  wait  for  that.  If  we  had  a  Governor 
of  spirit,  instead  of  a  timorous  old  man  like 
Sayle,  he  would  have  already  sent  the  frigate 
down  here  to  demand  us  of  the  Spaniards. 
There  are  not  lacking  men  to  carry  out  the 
enterprise  :  Captain  Brayne  could  scarce  be 
restrained  from  swooping  down  on  the  whole 
garrison — as  Rob  Searle  did,  not  long  ago, 
when  he  rescued  Dr.  Woodward  out  of  their 
clutches." 

"  Captain  Brayne  ! — the  frigate  !  Do  you 
mean  that  the  Carolina  has  arrived  ?  " 

"  Two  months  ahead  of  our  sloop,"  declared 
Mr.  Collins ;  "  but  Governor  Sayle  has  de 
spatched  her  to  Virginia  for  provisions,  of  which 
we  were  beginning  to  run  short.  The  Port 
Royal  has  not  been  heard  of,  so  'tis  feared  she 
went  down  in  the  storm." 

He  went  on  to  tell  me  of  the  new  settlement 
which  had  been  already  laid  out  at  a  place 
called  Kiawah, — a  very  fair  and  fruitful 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         77 

country,  which  Heaven  grant  I  may  one  day 
see! 

In  my  turn  I  related  all  that  had  befallen  me 
since  we  reached  this  place.  They  heard  me 
out  very  gravely,  and  promised  to  contrive 
some  means  of  communicating  with  me  in  case 
of  need. 

Then,  as  it  grew  very  late,  we  parted,  prom 
ising  to  meet  the  following  night ;  and  I  crept 
softly  back  to  the  house  and  my  little  room, 
greatly  comforted  that  I  now  had  a  worthy 
gentleman  like  Mr.  Collins  with  whom  I  could 
advise  ;  for  with  his  knowledge  of  the  Spanish 
tongue  and  his  sound  judgment  I  hope  he 
may  influence  the  Governor  in  our  favour. 

The  sun  is  setting  now,  I  think,  although  I 
cannot  see  it  from  my  window ;  for  all  the  sky 
without  is  faintly  pink,  and  every  ripple  on 
the  bay  turns  a  blushing  cheek  toward  the 
west.  I  must  lay  by  my  pen  and  watch  for  an 
opportunity  to  keep  tryst  at  the  gateway  with 
my  two  good  friends.  .  .  . 

Nine  of  the  clock. 

God  help  me !  I  waited  in  the  garden  till  I 
heard  a  whistle,  and  stole  down  to  the  gate  as 
before. 

A  man  put  out  his  hand  and  caught  at  mine 
through  the  bars.  It  was  that  vile  Tomas — 


78          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

the  wretch  who  would  have  murdered  my  dear 
love  !  I  screamed  and  fled,  but  he  called  after 
me  in  Spanish.  The  words  were  strange  to  me 
— but  the  tones  of  his  voice  and  the  coarse 
laughter  needed  no  interpreter! 

As  I  flew  across  the  garden,  too  frightened 
to  attempt  concealment,  Dofla  Orosia  stepped 
out  into  the  courtyard  and  demanded  an  ex 
planation.  I  knew  not  what  to  say,  for  I 
could  not  divulge  the  motive  that  had  sent  me 
out ;  but  I  told  her  that  a  man  had  called  me 
from  the  gate,  and  when  I  went  near  to  see 
who  it  might  be  I  recognized  the  servant  of 
Melinza. 

She  seemed  to  doubt  me  at  first,  till  I  de 
scribed  him  closely ;  then  she  was  greatly 
angered  and  forbade  me  the  garden  altogether. 

"  If  I  find  you  here  alone  again,"  she  hissed, 
seizing  my  shoulder  with  no  gentle  grasp, 
"  if  I  find  you  here  again,  I  will  turn  the  key 
upon  you  and  keep  you  prisoner  in  your 
chamber." 

So  now  I  dare  not  venture  beyond  the  court 
and  the  balconies ;  and  there  will  be  no  chance 
of  speaking  with  Mr.  Collins  unless  he  dares 
to  come  under  my  window,  and  there  is  little 
hope  of  his  doing  that  unseen,  for  'tis  in  full 
view  from  the  ramparts  of  the  fort,  where  a 
sentry  paces  day  and  night. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

AUGUST,  the  /th  day. 

When  I  began  this  tale  of  our  captivity  it 
was  with  the  hope  that  I  might  find  some 
means  of  sending  it  to  friends,  in  this  country 
or  in  England,  who  would  interest  themselves 
in  obtaining  our  release.  However,  from  what 
Mr.  Collins  told  me,  I  feel  assured  that  news 
of  Mr.  Rivers's  capture  has  already  been  sent 
to  their  Lordships  the  proprietors,  and  this 
record  of  mine  seems  now  but  wasted  labour. 
Yet  from  time  to  time,  for  my  own  solace,  I 
shall  add  to  it ;  and  perchance,  some  day  in 

safety  and  freedom,  I  and another — — 

may  together  read  its  tear-stained  pages. 

This  day  I  have  completed  the  seventeenth 
year  of  my  age.  It  is  a  double  anniversary,  for 
one  year  ago  this  night — it  being  the  eve  of  our 
departure  from  England — I  first  set  eyes  upon 
my  dear  love. 

Can  it  be  possible  that  he,  in  his  dolorous 
prison,  has  taken  account  of  the  passing  days 
and  remembers  that  night — a  year  ago  ? 
'Twould  be  liker  a  man  if  he  took  no  thought  of 


8o    THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

the  date  till  it  was  past, — yet  I  do  greatly  won- 
der  if  he  has  forgotten. 

As  for  me,  the  memory  has  lived  with  me 
all  these  hours  since  I  unclosed  my  eyes  at 
dawn. 

I  can  see  now  the  brightly  lighted  cabin  of 
the  Carolina,  where  the  long  supper-table 
was  laid  for  the  many  passengers  who  were  to 
set  out  on  the  morrow  for  a  new  world.  I  had 
been  somehow  parted  from  my  uncle,  Dr.  Scri 
vener,  and  I  stood  in  the  cabin  doorway  half 
afraid  to  venture  in  and  meet  the  eyes  of  all 
the  strangers  present.  I  felt  the  colour  mount 
ing  warmly  in  my  cheek,  and  my  feet  were 
very  fain  to  run  away,  when  Captain  Henry 
Brayne,  the  brave  and  cheery  commander  of  the 
frigate,  caught  sight  of  me,  and,  rising  hastily, 
led  me  to  a  seat  at  his  own  right  hand. 

(I  do  recollect  that  I  wore  a  new  gown  of 
fine  blue  cloth — a  soft  and  tender  colour,  that 
became  me  well.) 

As  I  took  my  place  I  glanced  shyly  round, 
and  saw,  at  the  farther  end  of  the  long  table, 
the  gallantest  gentleman  I  had  ever  set  eyes 
upon  in  all  my  sixteen  years  of  life.  He  was 
looking  directly  at  me,  and  presently  he  lifted 
his  glass  and  said  : 

"  Captain  Brayne,  I  give  you  the  Carolina  and 
every  treasure  she  contains  !  " 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         81 

There  was  some  laughter  as  the  toast  was 
drunk,  and  my  uncle — who  had  only  that 
moment  entered  and  taken  his  seat  beside  me 
— asked  of  me  an  explanation. 

"  Nay,  Dr.  Scrivener,"  said  the  jovial  cap 
tain,  "  'tis  not  likely  the  little  lady  was  attend 
ing.  But  now  I  give  you — the  health  of  Mis 
tress  Tudor  !  (and  it  will  not  be  the  first  time  it 
has  been  proposed  to-night ! )  " 

And  that  was  but  a  year  ago.  I  would  never 
have  guessed  that  at  seventeen  I  could  feel  so 
very  old. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SAN  AUGUSTIN'S  DAY — August,  the  28th. 

Oh !  but  I  have  been  angered  this  day  ! 

What  ?  when  my  betrothed  lies  in  prison,  ill, 
perhaps,  or  fretting  his  brave  heart  away,  am  I 
to  be  dragged  forth  to  make  part  of  a  pageant 
for  the  entertainment  of  his  jailers?  I  would 
sooner  have  the  lowest  cell  in  the  dungeon — 
aye  !  and  starve  and  stifle  for  lack  of  food  and 
air,  than  be  forced  to  deck  myself  out  in  bor 
rowed  bravery,  and  sit  mowing  and  smiling  in 
a  gay  pavilion,  and  clap  hands  in  transport 
over  the  fine  cavalier  airs  of  the  man  I  hold 
most  in  abhorrence ! 

Do  they  take  me  for  so  vapid  a  little  fool 
that  I  may  be  compelled  to  any  course  they 
choose  ?  Nay,  then,  they  have  learned  a  lesson. 
Oh,  but  it  is  good  to  be  in  a  fair  rage  for  once  ! 

I  had  grown  so  weary  and  sick  at  heart  that 
the  blood  crawled  sluggishly  in  my  veins  ;  my 
eyes  were  dull  and  heavy  ;  I  had  sat  listlessly, 
with  idle  hands,  day  after  day,  waiting — wait 
ing  for  I  knew  not  what!  Therefore  it  was 
that  I  had  no  will  or  courage  to  oppose  the 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          83 

Governor's  wife  when  she  came  to  me  this 
morning  and  bade  me  wear  the  gown  she 
brought,  and  pin  a  flower  in  my  hair,  and  sit 
with  her  in  the  Governor's  pavilion  to  see  the 
fine  parade  go  by. 

"  This  is  a  great  day  in  San  Augustin,"  she 
said,  "  being  the  one-hundred-and-fifth  anni 
versary  of  its  founding  by  the  Spanish." 

As  the  captives  of  olden  times  made  part 
of  the  triumph  of  their  conquerors,  'twas 
very  fit  that  I,  forsooth,  should  lend  what 
little  I  possessed  of  youth  and  fairness  to  the 
making  of  a  Spanish  holiday  ! 

But  I  was  too  spiritless,  then,  to  dare  a  re 
fusal.  I  bowed  my  head  meekly  enough  while 
Ch£pa — the  smiling,  good-natured  negress — 
gathered  up  the  rustling  folds  of  the  green 
silk  petticoat  and  slipped  it  over  my  shouL 
ders.  I  made  no  demur  while  she  looped  and 
twisted  the  long  tresses  of  my  yellow  hair, 
fastening  it  high  with  a  tall  comb,  and  tying 
a  knot  of  black  velvet  riband  upon  each  of  the 
wilful  little  bunches  of  curls  that  ever  come 
tumbling  about  my  ears. 

When  all  was  finished,  and  the  lace  mantilla 
fastened  to  my  comb  and  draped  about  my 
shoulders,  I  was  moved  by  Barbara's  cries  of 
admiration  to  cast  one  glance  upon  the  mirror. 
'Twas  an  unfamiliar  picture  that  I  saw  there, 


84    THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

and  my  pale  face  blushed  with  some  mortifica 
tion  that  it  should  have  lent  itself  so  kindly  to 
a  foreign  fashion. 

I  would  have  thrown  off  all  the  braveries 
that  minute ;  but  just  then  came  a  message 
from  Dona  Orosia,  bidding  me  hasten. 

"  What  matters  anything  to  me  now  ?  "  I 
thought  wearily  ;  and,  slowly  descending  to 
the  courtyard,  I  took  my  place  in  the  closed 
chair  that  waited,  and  was  borne  after  the 
Governor's  lady  to  the  Plaza,  where,  at  the 
western  end  facing  upon  the  little  open  square, 
was  the  gay  pavilion. 

Its  red  and  yellow  banners  shone  gaudily  in 
the  hot  sunlight  of  the  summer  afternoon,  and 
the  fresh  sea  breeze  kept  the  tassels  and 
streamers  all  a-flutter,  like  butterflies  hovering 
over  a  bed  of  flowers. 

Three  sides  of  the  Plaza  were  lined  with 
spectators,  but  the  eastern  end — which  opened 
out  toward  the  bay — was  kept  clear  for  the 
troops  to  enter. 

Against  the  slight  railing  of  the  little  pa 
vilion  leaned  Dona  Orosia,  strangely  fair  in  a 
gown  of  black  lace  and  primrose  yellow,  that 
transformed  the  soft  contours  of  her  throat 
and  cheek  from  pale  olive  to  the  purest  pearl. 
She  deigned  to  bestow  but  a  single  cold,  un 
friendly  glance  upon  me  ;  then  she  bent  for- 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.    85 

ward  as  before,  her  lifted  fan  shielding  her 
eyes  from  the  glare  of  the  sun-kissed  sea. 

Presently,  with  the  blare  of  trumpets  and 
the  deep  rolling  of  the  drums,  the  King's 
troops  came  in  sight,  three  hundred  strong. 

At  the  head  of  the  little  band,  which 
marched  afoot,  rode  Melinza  and  the  Gov 
ernor.  'Twas  the  first  time  I  had  seen  a  horse 
in  the  town. 

Old  Senor  de  Colis  was  mounted  on  a 
handsome  bay  that  pranced  and  curvetted 
beneath  him,  to  his  most  evident  discomfort ; 
but  Melinza's  seat  was  superb.  It  was  a  dap 
pled  gray  he  rode,  with  flowing  mane  and  tail 
of  silvery  white ;  a  crimson  rosette  was  fas 
tened  to  its  crimped  forelock,  and  the  long 
saddle-cloth  was  richly  embroidered. 

As  the  little  company  swept  round  the 
square,  the  two  horsemen  saluted  our  pavilion. 
Don  Pedro  lifted  his  plumed  hat  high,  and  I 
saw  that  his  face  was  pale  from  his  recent 
wound,  but  the  bold  black  eyes  were  as  bright 
as  ever  they  had  been  before. 

I  drew  back  hastily  from  the  front  of  the 
pavilion  and  made  no  pretence  of  returning 
his  salute.  Then,  for  the  first  time  since  I 
had  taken  my  seat  beside  her,  Dona  Orosia 
spoke  to  me. 

"  Why  such  scant  courtesy  ?  "  she  asked, 
with  lifted  brows. 


86          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

"  Madame,"  I  answered,  "  had  my  betrothed 
been  here  at  my  side,  an  honoured  guest,  I 
would  have  had  more  graciousness  at  my  com 
mand." 

"  What !  "  she  exclaimed,  "  have  you  not 
yet  had  time  to  forget  your  quarrelsome 
cavalier  ?  " 

"  I  will  forget  him,  madame,  when  I  cease 
to  remember  the  treachery  of  those  who 
called  themselves  his  entertainers." 

She  flushed  angrily.  "  Your  tongue  has 
more  of  spirit  than  your  face.  I  wonder  that 
you  have  the  courage  to  say  this  to  me." 

"  I  dare,  because  I  have  nothing  more  to 
lose,  madame ! " 

"Say  you  so?  Would  you  rather  I  gave 
you  into  Melinza's  keeping?" 

"  Nay  !  "  I  cried,  "  you  could  not — such 
unfaith  would  surpass  the  limits  of  even 
Spanish  treachery  !  And  you  would  not — it 
would  please  you  better  if  he  never  set  eyes  upon 
my  face  again  !  I  only  wonder  that  you  should 
have  brought  me  here  to-day !  " 

She  opened  her  lips  to  speak  ;  but  the  blare 
of  the  trumpets  drowned  the  words,  and  she 
turned  away  from  me. 

The  troops  were  drawn  in  line  across  the 
square :  on  the  right,  the  Spanish  regulars  of 
the  garrison  ;  on  the  left,  the  militia  companies, 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         87 

which  had  come  up  while  we  were  speaking. 
These  last  were  made  up,  for  the  most  part,  of 
mulattoes  and  half-breed  Indians, — a  swarthy- 
faced,  ill-looking  band  that  appeared  fitter  for 
savage  warfare  of  stealth  and  ambuscade  and 
poisoned  arrows  than  for  valorous  exploits 
and  honest  sword-play. 

The  various  manoeuvres  of  the  troops,  under 
the  skilled  leadership  of  Don  Pedro,  occupied 
our  attention  for  upward  of  an  hour,  during 
all  which  time  my  companion  appeared  quite 
unconscious  of  my  presence.  She  sat  motion 
less  save  for  the  swaying  of  her  fan.  Only 
once  did  her  face  express  aught  but  fixed 
attention — and  that  was  when  a  sudden  fanfare 
of  the  trumpets  caused  the  Governor's  horse 
to  plunge,  and  the  old  man  lurched  forward 
on  the  pommel  of  his  saddle,  his  plumed  hat 
slipping  down  over  his  eyes. 

For  an  instant  the  swaying  fan  was  still ; 
a  low  laugh  sounded  in  my  ear,  and,  turning, 
I  saw  the  red  lips  of  the  Governor's  lady  take 
on  a  very  scornful  curve. 

She  received  him  graciously  enough,  how 
ever,  when — the  review  being  over — he  dis 
mounted  and  joined  us  in  the  pavilion. 

Melinza  had  retired  with  the  troops ;  but 
just  as  the  last  rank  disappeared  from  view 
he  came  galloping  back  at  full  speed,  flung 


88          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

himself  from  the  saddle,  and,  throwing  the 
reins  to  an  attendant,  mounted  the  pavilion 
stair. 

I  felt  that  Dona  Orosia's  eyes  were  upon 
me,  and  I  believed  that  she  liked  me  none  the 
less  for  my  hostility  to  the  man.  It  may 
have  been  this  that  gave  me  courage — I  do  not 
know — I  think  I  would  not  have  touched  his 
hand  in  any  case. 

He  flushed  deeply  when  I  put  both  of  mine 
behind  my  back ;  then,  with  the  utmost 
effrontery,  he  leaned  forward  and  plucked 
away  one  little  black  rosette  that  had  fallen 
loose  from  my  curls  and  was  slipping  down 
upon  my  shoulder.  This  he  raised  to  his  lips 
with  a  laugh,  and  then  fastened  upon  his  breast. 

I  was  deeply  angered,  and  I  cast  about  for 
some  means  of  retaliation  that  would  show 
him  the  scorn  I  held  him  in. 

At  the  foot  of  the  pavilion  stood  the  youth 
who  was  holding  Melinza's  horse. 

I  leaned  over  the  railing,  and,  loosing  quickly 
from  my  hair  the  fellow  to  the  rosette  Don 
Pedro  wore,  I  tossed  it  to  the  lad  below, 
saying,  in  almost  the  only  Spanish  words  I 
knew, — 

"  It  is  a  gift !  " 

Melinza's  face  grew  white  with  anger;  he 
tore  off  the  bit  of  riband  and  ground  it  under 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.    89 

his  heel ;  then  he  strode  down  the  stair, 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  away. 

The  Governor's  lady  watched  him  till  he 
was  out  of  sight ;  then,  with  a  strange  smile, 
she  said  to  me, — 

"  I  never  knew  before  that  blue  eyes  had  so 
much  of  fire  in  them.  I  think,  my  little  saint, 
'tis  time  I  sent  you  back  to  your  old  duenna." 

"  I  would  thank  you  for  so  much  grace ! " 
was  my  reply.  And  back  to  Barbara  I  was 
despatched  forthwith. 

But  though  I  have  been  some  hours  in  my 
chamber,  my  indignation  has  not  cooled. 
The  very  sight  of  that  man's  countenance  is 
more  than  I  can  endure  ! 

I  am  resolved  that  I  will  never  set  foot  out 
side  my  door  when  there  is  any  chance  of  my 
encountering  him,  and  so  I  shall  inform  the 
Governor's  wife  when  she  returns.  .  .  . 

She  laughs  at  me !  She  declares  I  shall  do 
whatever  is  her  pleasure !  And  what  is  my 
puny  strength  to  hers?  With  all  the  will  in 
the  world  to  resist  her,  I  am  as  wax  in  her 
hands ! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  first  day  of  March. 

For  six  months  I  have  added  nothing  to 
this  record  ;  though  time  and  again  I  have 
taken  up  my  pen  to  write,  and  then  laid  it  by, 
with  no  mark  upon  the  fresh  page.  Can  heart 
ache  be  written  down  in  words?  Can  lone 
liness  and  longing, — the  desolation  of  one 
who  has  no  human  creature  on  whom  to  lavish 
love  and  care, — the  dull  misery  that  is  known 
only  to  those  whose  best  beloved  are  suffering 
the  worst  woes  of  this  woeful  life, — can  all 
these  be  told  ?  Ah,  no !  one  can  only  feel 
them — bear  them — and  be  crushed  by  them. 

If  it  had  not  been  for  the  good  old  dame,  I 
know  not  what  would  have  become  of  me. 
Many  a  day  and  many  a  night  I  have  clung 
to  her  for  hours,  weeping — crying  aloud,  "  I 
cannot  bear  it !  I  cannot !  "  What  choice  had 
I  but  to  bear  it  ?  And  tears  cannot  flow  for 
ever  ;  the  calm  of  utter  weariness  succeeds. 

'Tis  not  that  I  have  been  ill  treated.  I  am 
well  housed,  and  daintily  clothed  and  fed. 
Unless  Melinza — or  some  other  guest — is 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          91 

present,  I  sit  at  the  Governor's  own  table. 
His  wife  makes  of  me  something  between  a 
companion  and  a  plaything:  one  moment  I 
have  to  bear  with  her  capricious  kindness  ;  the 
next,  I  am  teased  or  driven  away  from  her 
with  as  little  courtesy  as  she  shows  to  the 
noble  hound  that  follows  her  like  her  own 
shadow. 

Until  lately  I  have  seen  little  of  Melinza. 
Early  in  the  winter  he  went  away  to  the 
Habana  and  remained  absent  two  months, 
during  which  time  I  had  more  peace  of  mind 
than  I  have  known  since  first  we  came  here. 
But  since  his  return  he  has  tried  in  various 
ways  to  force  himself  into  my  presence  ;  and 
Dona  Orosia, — who  could  so  easily  shield  me 
if  she  chose, — before  she  comes  to  my  relief, 
permits  him  to  annoy  me  until  I  am  roused  to 
the  point  of  passionate  repulse.  One  could 
almost  think  she  loves  to  see  me  suffer — unless 
it  is  the  sight  of  his  discomfiture  that  affords 
her  such  satisfaction. 

But  all  of  this  I  could  endure  if  only  my 
dear  love  were  free  !  I  have  heard  that  he  is 
ill.  It  may  not  be  true, — God  grant  that  it  is 
not!  Still,  though  the  rumour  came  to  me 
by  devious  ways,  and  through  old  Barbara's 
lips  at  last  (and  she  is  ever  prone  to  think  the 
worst),  it  is  more  than  possible !  I,  myself, 


92          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

have  suffered  somewhat  from  this  long  con 
finement  ;  and  in  how  much  worse  case  is  he  ! 

I  have  tried  to  occupy  myself,  that  I  may 
keep  my  thoughts  from  dwelling  forever  on 
our  unhappy  state.  In  the  past  six  months  I 
have  so  far  mastered  the  Spanish  tongue  that 
now  I  can  converse  in  it  with  more  ease  than 
in  the  French.  The  Governor  declares  that  I 
have  the  true  intonation ;  and  even  Dofia 
Orosia  admits  that  I  have  shown  some  aptitude. 
I  care  nothing  for  it  as  a  mere  accomplishment ; 
but  I  hope  that  the  knowledge  may  be  of  use 
if  ever  we  attempt  escape.  (Though  what 
chance  of  escape  is  there  when  Mr.  Rivers  is 
within  stone  walls  and  I  have  no  means  of 
even  holding  converse  with  Mr.  Collins  ?) 

I  have  one  other  accomplishment  that  has 
won  me  more  favour  with  the  Governor's  wife 
than  aught  else.  She  discovered,  one  day, 
that  I  have  some  skill  with  the  lute,  and  a 
voice  not  lacking  in  sweetness  ;  and  now  she 
will  have  me  sing  to  her  by  the  hour  until  my 
throat  is  weary  and  I  have  to  plead  for  rest. 

I  had,  recently,  a  conversation  with  her  that 
has  haunted  me  every  hour  since ;  for  it 
showed  me  a  side  of  her  nature  that  I  had  not 
seen  before,  and  that  leads  me  to  think  that 
under  her  caprice  and  petulance  there  is  a 
deep  purpose  hidden. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         93 

I  had  exhausted  my  list  of  songs,  and  as 
she  still  demanded  more  I  bethought  me  of  a 
Curious  old  ballad  I  had  heard  many  years 
jgo.  The  air  eluded  me  for  some  while  ;  but 
my  fingers,  straying  over  the  strings,  fell 
suddenly  into  the  plaintive  melody ;  with  it, 
the  words  too  came  back  to  me. 

I  bade  my  love  fareweel,  wi'  tears  ; 

He  bade  fareweel  to  me. 
"  How  sail  I  pass  the  lang,  lang  years  ?  " 

"  I  maun  be  gane,"  quo'  he. 

The  tear-draps  frae  mine  een  did  rin 

Like  water  frae  a  spring  ; 
But  while  I  grat,  my  love  gaed  in 

To  feast  and  reveling  ! 

The  tear-draps  frae  mine  een  did  start 

Salt  as  the  briny  tide  : 
Sae  sair  my  grief,  sae  fu'  my  heart, 

I  wept  a  river  wide. 

Adoon  that  stream  my  man  did  rove, 

And  crossed  the  tearfu'  sea. 
O  whaur'll  I  get  a  leal  true  love 

To  bide  at  hame  wi'  me  ? 

The  lang,  lang  years  they  winna  pass ; 

My  lord  is  still  awa'. 
Mayhap  he  loves  a  fairer  lass — 

O  wae  the  warst  ava  ! 

How  sail  I  wile  my  lover  hame  ? 
J'il  drink  the  tearfu'  seas ! 


94          THE  STORY  OP  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

My  red  mou'  to  their  briny  faem, 
I'll  drain  them  to  the  lees  ! 

Then  gin  he  comes  na  hameward  soon 

His  ain  true  love  to  wed, 
I'll  kilt  my  claes  and  don  my  shoon 

And  cross  the  sea's  dry  bed. 

"  Oh  in  thine  heart,  my  love,  my  lord, 
Mak'  room,  mak'  room  for  me ; 

Or  at  thy  feet,  by  my  true  word, 
Thy  lady's  grave  sail  be  ! " 

"  A  melancholy  air,  yet  with  somewhat  of  a 
pleasing  sadness  in  its  minor  cadences,"  com 
mented  Dona  Orosia  when  I  had  ceased. 
"  Translate  me  the  words,  an  your  Spanish  is 
sufficient." 

"  That  it  is  not,  I  fear,"  was  my  reply,  "  and 
the  task  is  beyond  me  for  the  further  reason 
that  the  song  is  not  even  English,  but  in  a  di 
alect  of  the  Scots.  'Tis  only  the  plaint  of  a 
poor  lady  whose  mind  seems  to  have  gone 
astray  in  her  long  waiting  for  a  faithless 
lover  " — and  I  gave  her  the  sense  of  the  verses 
as  best  I  could. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  Spanish  woman,  with  a 
singular  smile.  "  She  hath  more  wit  than  you 
credit  her  with.  You  mark  me,  the  flood  of  a 
woman's  tears  will  bear  a  man  further  than  a 
mighty  river,  and  her  sighs  waft  him  away 
more  speedily  than  the  strongest  gale.  And 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.         95 

once  he  has  gone,  taking  with  him  such  a 
memory  of  her,  'twould  be  far  easier  for  her 
to  drink  the  ocean  dry  than  to  wile  him  home. 
For  let  a  man  but  suspect  that  a  woman  could 

break  her  heart  for  him,  and  he is  more 

than  content  to  let  her  do  it !  " 

She  paused  ;  but  I  made  no  answer,  having 
none  upon  my  tongue.  Presently  she  added: 
"  When  once  a  woman  has  the  folly  to  plead 
for  herself,  in  that  moment  she  murders  Love ; 
and  every  tear  she  sheds  thereafter  becomes 
another  clod  upon  his  grave.  There  remains 
but  one  thing  for  her  to  do " 

"  Herself  to  die  !  "  I  murmured. 

"  Nay,  child  !  To  live  and  be  revenged !  " 
She  turned  a  flushed  face  toward  me ;  and, 
though  the  water  stood  in  her  eyes,  they  were 
hard  and  angry.  "  To  be  revenged  !  To  plot 
and  to  scheme  ;  to  bide  her  time  patiently  ;  to 
study  his  heart's  desire,  and  to  foster  it ;  and 
then " 

"  And  then  ?  "  I  questioned  softly,  with  lit 
tle  shivers  of  repulsion  chilling  me  from  head 
to  foot. 

"  To  rob  him  of  it" 

The  words  were  spoken  deliberately,  in  a 
voice  that  was  resonant  and  slow.  Twas  not 
like  the  outburst  of  a  moment's  impulse — the 
sudden  jangling  of  a  harpstring  rudely 


96          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.. 

touched  ;  it  was  rather  with  the  fateful  empha 
sis  of  a  clock  striking  the  hour,  heralded  by  a 
premonitory  quiver — a  gathering  together  of 
inward  forces  that  had  waited  through  long 
moments  for  this  final  utterance. 

What  manner  of  woman  was  this  ?  I 
caught  my  breath  with  a  little  shuddering 
cry. 

Dona  Orosia  turned  quickly. 

"  Go  !  Leave  me  !  "  she  cried.  "  Do  you 
linger?  Can  I  never  be  rid  of  you?  Out  of 
my  sight !  I  would  have  a  moment's  respite 
from  your  great  eyes  and  your  white  face. 
Go!" 

And  I  obeyed  her. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MARCH,  the  Qth  day. 

Dofia  Orosia  sent  for  me  at  noon  to-day. 
There  was  news  to  tell,  and  she  chose  to  be 
the  one  to  tell  it. 

I  found  her  in  her  favourite  seat, — a  great 
soft  couch,  covered  with  rich  Moorish  stuffs, 
and  placed  under  the  shadow  of  the  balcony 
that  overlooks  the  sunny  garden.  Up  each  of 
the  light  pillars  from  which  spring  the  grace' 
ful  arches  that  support  this  balcony  climbs  a 
mass  of  blooming  vines  that  weave  their  deli 
cate  tendrils  round  the  railing  above  and  then 
trail  downward  again  in  festoons  of  swaying 
colour.  Behind,  in  the  luminous  shadow,  she 
lay  coiled  and  half  asleep ;  with  a  large  fan  of 
bronze  turkey-feathers  in  one  lazy  hand,  the 
other  teasing  the  tawny  hound  which  was 
stretched  out  at  her  feet. 

She  opened  her  great  eyes  as  I  came  near. 

"  Ah !  the  little  blue-eyed  Margarita,  the 
little  saint  who  frowns  when  men  worship  at 
her  shrine,"  she  said  slowly.  "  There  is  news 
for  you.  The  Virgen  de  la  Mar  arrived  last 


98          THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

night  from  Habana,  bringing  the  commands 
of  the  Council  of  Spain  that  the  English 
prisoners  here  detained  be  liberated  forthwith. 
For  it  seems  that  there  has  been  presented  to 
the  Council,  through  our  ambassador  to  the 
English  Court,  a  memorial,  which  clearly 
proves  that  these  persons  have  given  no  provo 
cation  to  any  subject  of  his  Catholic  Majesty, 
Charles  the  Second  of  Spain,  and  are  therefore 
unlawfully  imprisoned.  How  like  you  that?" 
The  waving  fan  was  suddenly  stilled,  and  the 
brilliant  eyes  half  veiled. 

"  Is  this  true  ?  "  I  asked,  for  my  heart  mis 
gave  me. 

She  laughed.  "It  is  true  that  the  Virgen  de 
la  Mar  has  brought  those  orders  to  the  Gov 
ernor  of  San  Augustin — and  that  my  husband 
has  received  them." 

"  Will  he  obey  them,  seflora  ?  " 

"  Will  who  obey  them  ?  "  she  asked  ;  and 
there  was  a  gleam  of  white  teeth  under  the  red, 
curling  lip.  "  My  husband,  or  the  Governor 
of  San  Augustin  ?  " 

"Are  they  not  the  same?" 

"  If  you  think  so,  little  fool,"  she  cried, 
half  rising  from  her  couch  ;  "  if  you  think  so 
still,  you  would  better  go  back  to  your  cham 
ber  and  pray  yourself  and  your  lover  out  of 
prison  ! " 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.          99 

I  made  no  answer ;  I  waited,  without  much 
hope,  for  what  she  would  say  next.  My  heart 
was  very  full,  but  I  would  not  pleasure  her  by 
weeping. 

"  Child,"  she  continued,  sinking  back  among 
the  cushions  and  speaking  in  a  slow,  im 
pressive  manner,  "  there  are  two  Governors  in 
San  Augustin — and  they  take  their  commands 
neither  from  the  child-King,  the  Queen-mother, 
nor  any  of  the  Spanish  Council.  My  husband 
is  not  one ;  he  obeys  them  both  by  turns. 
His  Excellency  Don  Pedro  Melinza  decrees 
that  these  orders  from  Spain  shall  be  carried 
out  except  in  the  case  of  one  Sefior  Rivers, 
who  will  be  held  here  to  answer  for  an  unpro 
voked  assault  on  one  of  his  Majesty's  sub 
jects,  whom  he  severely  wounded  ;  also  for 
inciting  others  of  his  fellow  prisoners  to  break 
their  parole,  and  for  various  other  offences 
against  the  peace  of  this  garrison, — all  of  which 
charges  Melinza  will  swear  to  be  true." 

"  Is  he  so  lost  to  honour  ?  And  will  your 
husband  uphold  him  in  the  lie?" 

"  Hear  me  out,"  she  continued  in  the  same 
tone.  "  Melinza  also  decides  that  these  orders 
do  not  include  the  English  sefiorita,  Dona 
Margaret,  whom  he  intends  to  detain  here  for 
for  reasons  best  known  to  himself ;  al 
though  the  other  Governor  of  San  Augustin 


ioo        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

decrees" she  started  up  from  her  nest  of 

pillows  and  continued  in  a  wholly  different 
tone:  "/say — /say — that  you  shall  quit  this 
place  with  the  other  prisoners,  and  my  husband 
dares  not  oppose  me !  I  am  sick  of  your 
white  face  and  your  saintly  blue  eyes ;  I  am 
wearied  to  death  of  your  company;  but  I 
swear  Melinza  shall  not  have  you  !  Therefore 
go  you  must,  and  speedily." 

"  And  leave  my  betrothed  at  Don  Pedro's 
mercy  ?  " 

"  What  is  that  to  me  ?  Let  him  rot  in  his 
dungeon.  I  care  not — so  I  am  rid  of  your 
white  face." 

She  shut  her  eyes  angrily  and  thrust  out 
her  slippered  foot  at  the  sleeping  hound.  He 
lifted  his  great  head  and  yawned  ;  then,  gather 
ing  up  his  huge  bulk  from  the  ground,  he  drew 
closer  to  his  mistress's  side  and  sniffed  the 
air  with  solicitude,  as  though  seeking  a  cause 
for  her  displeasure.  There  was  a  dish  of  cakes 
beside  her,  and  she  took  one  in  her  white  fin 
gers  and  threw  it  to  the  dog.  He  let  it  fall  to 
the  ground,  and  nosed  it  doubtfully,  putting 
forth  an  experimental  tongue, — till,  finding  it 
to  his  taste,  he  swallowed  it  at  a  gulp.  His 
mistress  laughed,  and  tossed  him  another, 
which  disappeared  in  his  great  jaws.  A  third 
met  the  same  fate  ;  but  the  fourth  she  ex- 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        1O1 

tended  to  him  in  her  pink  palm,  and,  as  he  would 
have  taken  it  she  snatched  the  hand  away. 
Again  and  again  the  poor  brute  strove  to  seize 
the  proffered  morsel,  but  each  time  it  was 
lifted  out  of  his  reach ;  till  finally  his  lithe 
body  was  launched  upward,  and  he  snapped 
both  the  cake  and  the  hand  that  teased  him. 

'Twas  the  merest  scratch,  and  truly  the  dog 
meant  it  not  in  anger ;  but  on  the  instant 
Dona  Orosia  flushed  crimson  to  her  very  brow, 
and,  drawing  up  her  silken  skirt,  she  snatched 
a  jewelled  dagger  from  her  garter  and  plunged 
it  to  the  hilt  in  the  poor  beast's  throat.  The 
red  blood  spouted,  and  the  huge  body  dropped 
in  a  tawny  heap. 

I  rushed  forward  and  lifted  the  great  head  ; 
but  the  eyes  were  glazed. 

"  Senora  !  "  I  cried,  "  senora  !  the  poor  brute 
loved  you  ! " 

She  spurned  the  limp  body  with  a  careless 
foot,  saying, — 

"  So  did — once — the  man  who  gave  it 
me." 

Then  she  clapped  her  hands,  and  the  negro 
servant  came  and  at  her  command  dragged 
away  the  carcass,  wiped  the  bloody  floor,  and 
brought  a  basin  of  clear  water  and  a  linen 

O 

cloth  to  bathe  the  scratch  on  her  hand. 
When  he  had  gone  she  made  me  bind  it  up 


102        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

with  her  broidered  kerchief  and  stamped  her 
foot  because  I  drew  the  knot  over-tight. 

"  Dona  Orosia,"  I  said,  when  I  had  done  it 
to  her  liking.  "  If  all  you  care  for,  in  this 
other  matter,  is  to  get  rid  of  my  white  face,  I 
pray  you  kill  me  with  your  dagger  and  ask 
your  lord  to  let  my  love  go  free." 

She  looked  up  curiously.  "Would  you  die 
for  him  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Most  willingly,  an  it  please  you  to  make 
my  death  his  ransom." 

Still  she  gazed  at  me  and  seemed  strangely 
stirred.  "  Once  I  loved  like  that,"  she  said 
in  musing  tones.  "  I  will  tell  thee  a  tale,  child, 
for  I  like  not  the  reproach  in  those  blue  eyes. 
Five  years  ago,  when  I  was  as  young  as 
thou  art  now,  I  lived  with  my  parents  in 
Valencia,  where  the  flowers  are  even  sweeter 
and  the  skies  bluer  than  here  in  sunny  Florida. 
I  had  a  lover  in  those  days,  who  followed  me 
like  my  shadow,  and,  in  spite  of  my  old  duenna, 
found  many  a  moment  to  pour  his  passion  in 
my  ears.  He  was  a  brave  man  and  a  hand 
some,  and  he  won  my  heart  from  me.  Though 
he  had  no  great  fortune  I  would  have  wed 
him  willingly  and  followed  him  over  land  and 
sea.  I  never  doubted  him  for  a  day  ;  and 
when  he  came  to  my  father's  house  with  an 
old  nobleman,  his  uncle  and  the  head  of  his 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        103 

family,  I  was  well  content ;  for  my  mother 
told  me  they  had  asked  for  my  hand  and  it 
had  been  promised.  But  when  my  father 
called  me  in  at  last  to  see  my  future  husband, 
it  was  the  old  man  who  met  me  with  a  simper 
on  his  wrinkled  face.  I  turned  to  the  nephew  ; 
but  he  was  gazing  out  of  the  window " 

She  broke  off  with  a  fierce  laugh  and  then 
added  bitterly, — "  And  so  I  came  to  marry 
my  husband,  the  Governor  of  San  Augustin  !  " 

"  The  other  was  Don  Pedro  ?  " 

"  Has  thy  baby  wit  compassed  that  much  ? 
Yes,  the  other  was  Melinza." 

"  But  if  you  once  loved  him  why  should 
there  be  hate  between  you  now  ?  " 

"  Why  ?  thou  little  fool !  Why  ?  "—she  put 
out  one  hand  and  drew  me  closer,  so  that  she 
could  look  deep  into  my  eyes.  "  Why  does  a 
woman  ever  hate  a  man  ?  Canst  tell  me 
that  ?  " 

We  gazed  at  each  other  so  until  I  saw — 
I  scarce  know  what  I  saw  !  My  head  swam, 
and  of  a  sudden  it  came  over  me  that  when 
the  angels  fell  from  heaven  there  must  have 
been  an  awful  beauty  in  their  eyes ! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1  AWOKE  this  morning  with  a  sense  of 
horror  haunting  me, — and  then  I  recalled  the 
scene  of  yesterday  and  the  dumb  appeal  in 
the  eyes  of  the  dying  hound.  The  story  the 
Spanish  woman  had  told  me  of  her  own  past 
pleaded  nothing  in  excuse.  Hatred  and 
cruelty  seemed  strange  fruit  for  love  to  bear. 

I  thought  of  my  own  ill  fortunes,  and  I  said 
within  me  :  True  Love  sits  at  the  door  of  the 
heart  to  guard  it  from  all  evil  passions.  Loss 
and  Pain  may  enter  in,  and  Sorrow  bear  them 
company  ;  but  Revenge  and  Cruelty,  Untruth, 
and  all  their  evil  kin,  must  hide  their  shamed 
faces  and  pass  by  ! 

Secure  in  the  thought  of  the  pure  affection 
that  reigned  in  my  own  bosom,  I  went  forth 
and  met  Temptation,  and  straightway  fell 
from  the  high  path  in  which  I  believed  my 
feet  to  be  so  surely  fixed ! 

Dona  Orosia  seemed  to  be  in  a  strangely 
gentle  mood. 

"  Child,  how  pale  thy  face  is !  Didst  thou 
not  lie  awake  all  night  ?  Deny  it  not,  'tis  writ 
most  plainly  in  the  dark  shadows  round  those 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        105 

great  blue  eyes.    Come,  rest  here  beside  me  '• 

and  she  drew  me  down  upon  the  couch  and 
slipped  a  soft  pillow  under  my  head. 

I  was  fairly  dumfounded  at  this  unwonted 
courtesy,  and  could  find  no  words  to  meet  it 
with.  But  she  appeared  unconscious  of  my 
silence  and  continued  speaking. 

'  Tis  the  thought  of  the  English  lover  that 
robs  thee  of  sleep,  Margarita  mia !  Thou 
wouldst  give  thy  very  life  to  procure  his  free 
dom  ;  is  it  not  so  ?  Would  any  task  be  too 
hard  for  thee  with  this  end  in  view  ?  " 

I  could  not  answer ;  I  clasped  my  hands 
and  looked  at  her  in  silence. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  she  said,  smiling,  and 
laid  a  gentle  finger  on  my  cheek. 

"  Oh,  senora,  you  will  aid  me  to  save  him  ! 
You  will  plead  with  the  Governor — you  will 
set  him  free  ?  " 

She  drew  back  coldly.  "  You  ask  too 
much.  I  have  told  you  that  there  are  two 
Governors  in  San  Augustin — I  divide  the 
honours  with  Melinza ;  but  I  plead  with  him 
for  naught." 

I  turned  away  to  hide  the  quivering  of  my 
lip. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  she  added  more  kindly. 
"  Between  Pedro  Melinza  and  Orosia  de  Colis 
there  is  at  present  an  armed  peace ;  since 


io6        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

each  holds  a  hostage.  Not  that  I  care  any 
thing  for  the  Englishman,  but  my  husband  is 
undesirous  of  defying  the  commands  of  the 
Council.  Although  he  bears  no  love  to  your 
nation,  he  maintains  that  it  is  not  the  policy 
of  our  government,  at  present,  to  ignore 
openly  the  friendly  relations  that  are  sup 
posed  to  exist  between  the  Crowns  of  England 
and  of  Spain.  It  seems  that  the  duplicate  of 
the  Council's  orders  has  been  sent  to  the  Gov 
ernor  of  your  new  settlement  on  this  coast ; 
and  if  he  sends  hither  to  demand  the  delivery 
of  the  prisoners,  Senor  de  Colis  would  rather 
choose  to  yield  up  all,  than  to  risk  a  reprimand 
from  the  authorities  at  home. 

"  Dost  thou  understand  all  this  ?  Well,  let 
us  now  see  the  reverse  of  the  picture. 

"  Melinza  sets  his  own  desires  in  the  scale, 
and  they  outweigh  all  politic  scruples.  He  has 
sworn  that  so  long  as  I  stand  between  him 
and  you,  so  long  will  Senor  Rivers  remain  in 
the  castle  dungeon, — unless  Death  steps  kindly 
in  to  set  your  lover  free." 

A  little  sob  broke  in  my  throat  at  these 
cruel  words.  Dona  Orosia  laid  her  hand  on 
mine. 

"  Poor  little  one  !  "  she  said. 

"You  pity  me,  sefiora  !  What  is  your  pity 
worth?"  I  demanded,  forcing  back  the  tears. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        107 

"  I  have  a  way  of  escape  to  offer,"  she  an- 
swered  softly. 

"  Escape  for  him  ?     Or  for  me  ?  " 

"  For  both.  Now  listen  !  There  is  but  one 
way  to  relax  Melinza's  hold  on  Senor  Rivers. 
He  would  exchange  him  willingly  for  you." 

"  Better  for  us  both  to  die !  "  I  exclaimed 
indignantly. 

"  I  would  sooner  kill  you  with  my  own 
hands  than  give  you  up  to  him,"  said  Dofla 
Orosia,  with  a  cold  smile. 

"  Then  what  do  you  mean,  senora  ?  " 

"  I  mean,  Margarita  mia,  that  you  should 
feign  a  tenderness  for  him  and  let  him  think 
that  it  is  I  who  would  keep  two  loving  souls 
apart." 

"  What !  when  I  have  shown  him  naught 
but  dislike  in  all  these  months?  He  could 
never  be  so  witless  as  to  believe  in  such  a 
sudden  transformation." 

"  Such  is  the  vanity  of  man,"  said  Dofia 
Orosia,  "that  he  would  find  it  easier  to  believe 
that  you  had  feigned  hatred  all  this  while 
from  fear  of  me,  than  to  doubt  that  you  had 
eventually  fallen  a  victim  to  his  fascinations." 

"  What  would  it  advantage  me  if  I  did  de 
ceive  him  ?  " 

"  He  would  then  cease  to  oppose  the  liber 
ation  of_all  the  other  prisoners." 


io8        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

11  But  what  of  my  fate,  senora  ?  " 

"  Leave  that  in  my  hands,  little  one, — I  am 
not  powerless.  I  give  thee  my  word  he  shall 
never  have  thee.  At  the  last  moment  we 
shall  undeceive  him " — and  she  laughed  a 
low  laugh  of  triumph. 

I  glanced  up  quickly. 

"So!"  I  exclaimed.  "This  will  be  your 
revenge  !  And  you  would  bribe  me,  with  my 
dear  love's  freedom,  to  act  a  part  in  it !  To 
lie  for  you  ;  to  play  at  love  where  I  feel  only 
loathing ;  to  sully  my  lips  with  feigned  ca 
resses  ;  and  to  make  a  mockery  of  the  holiest 
thing  in  life  !  " 

"  Is  your  Englishman  not  worth  some  sac 
rifice  ?  "  she  asked,  with  lifted  brows. 

What  could  I  say  ?  I  left  her.  I  hastened 
to  my  little  room,  shut  fast  the  door,  and 
bolted  it  on  the  inner  side.  Then  I  knelt  at 
the  barred  window  and  looked  out  at  the  sun 
light  and  the  sea. 

The  blue  waves  danced  happily,  and  the 
fresh  wind  kissed  the  sparkling  ripples  till  the 
foam  curled  over  them — as  white  lids  droop 
coyly  over  laughing  eyes.  Two  snowy  gulls 
dipped  and  soared,  flashing  now  against  the 
blue  sky — now  into  the  blue  sea.  I  gazed  at 
their  white  wings — and  thought  of  all  the  vain 
prayers  I  had  sent  up  to  Heaven. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        109 

And  then  the  dark  hour  of  my  life  closed 
down  on  me. 

I  bethought  me  of  my  father,  that  loyal 
gentleman  whose  only  fault  was  that  he  served 
his  Prince  too  well, — a  Prince  whose  gratitude 
had  never  prompted  him  to  inquire  concern 
ing  that  servant's  fate,  or  to  offer  a  word  of 
consolation  to  the  wife  who  had  lost  her  all. 
I  bethought  me  of  my  young  mother,  of  her 
white,  tear-stained  face,  of  the  long  hours  she 
had  spent  upon  her  knees,  and  how  at  last 
she  prayed  :  "  Lord  !  only  to  know  that  he  is 
dead  !  " — yet  she  died  ignorant. 

Then  did  the  devil  come  to  me  and  whisper : 
"  Of  what  use  is  it  to  have  patience  and  faith  ? 
Does  thy  God  bear  thee  in  mind — or  is  his 
memory  like  that  of  the  Prince  thy  father 
served  ?  Dost  thou  still  believe  that  He 
doeth  all  things  well,  and  is  there  still  trust  in 
thy  heart  ?  Come,  make  friends  of  those 
who  would  aid  thee — never  mind  a  little  lie  ! 
Wouldst  be  happy  ?  Wouldst  save  thy  dear 
love  ?  Then  cease  thy  vain  prayers  and  take 
thy  fate  in  thine  own  hands." 

I  rose  up  from  my  knees  and  looked  out 
again  upon  the  laughing  waters, — I  would  do 
this  evil  thing  that  good  might  come.  I 
would  act  a  lying  part,  and  soil  my  soul,  so 
that  I  and  my  dear  love  might  win  freedom 


1 1 o        THE  S TOR  Y  OF  MARGARE T  TUDOR. 

and  happiness.  But  I  would  pray  no  more — 
for  I  could  not  ask  God's  blessing  on  a  lie. 

Then  I  went  slowly  back  to  where  my 
temptress  waited. 

"  Dofia  Orosia,"  I  said,  "  I  take  your  offer. 
I  am  young — I  would  be  happy  ;  and  you — 
you  would  be  revenged !  I  am  not  the  little 
fool  you  think  me :  I  know  you  too  well  to 
believe  that  you  would  aid  me  out  of  love ;  I 
laugh  at  your  pity  ;  but  I  trust  your  hate  !  " 

"  Bueno"  she  said.  "  It  is  enough.  We 
understand  one  another, — but  I  must  teach 
thee  the  part,  or  thou  wilt  fail." 

"  I  am  not  so  simple,  senora,  I  can  feign 
love — for  love's  sake." 

"  Yet  I  would  have  thee  set  round  with 
thorns,  my  sweet.  The  rose  that  is  too  easy 
plucked  is  not  worth  wearing.  And  do  thou 
give  only  promises  and  never  fulfil  them, — I'd 
baulk  him  of  every  kiss  he  thinks  to  win !  " 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  DAY  went  by,  and  though  I  had  become 
even  letter-perfect  in  my  new  role  I  had  not 
the  chance  to  play  it  to  my  audience  ;  but  it 
came  at  last. 

It  was  in  the  long,  dreamy  hour  of  the  early 
afternoon,  when  sleep  comes  easiest.  Dona 
Orosia  had  ordered  her  couch  to  be  placed  in 
the  shadiest  part  of  the  breezy  garden,  close 
against  the  gray  stone  wall.  Designedly  she 
chose  the  corner  nearest  the  iron  gate, 
through  which  we  could  command  a  portion 
of  the  sunny  street ;  and  here  she  lay  and 
made  me  sing  to  her  all  the  songs  I  knew,  the 
while  she  dozed  and  waked  again,  and  whiles 
teased  her  parrot  into  uttering  discordant 
cries  until  for  very  anger  I  would  sing  no 
more. 

Suddenly  she  laid  aside  her  petulance,  and 
with  a  quick,  imperious  gesture  bade  me  take 
up  the  lute  again  ;  then,  falling  back  among 
her  pillows,  she  closed  her  eyes  and  let  her 
bosom  rise  and  fall  with  the  gentle  breathings 
of  a  sleeping  child. 


H2        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

I  hesitated  in  some  astonishment ;  but  again 
the  sharp  command  hissed  from  her  softly 
parted  lips, — 

"  Sing,  little  fool ! — Melinza  passes  !  " 

I  touched  the  lute  with  shaking  fingers  and 
lifted  my  trembling  voice.  The  notes  stuck 
in  my  throat  and  came  forth  huskily  at  first ; 
but  then  I  thought  on  my  dear  love  in  his 
hateful  prison,  and  I  sung  as  I  had  never  sung 
before. 

Above  the  gray  wall  I  saw  Don  Pedro's 
plumed  hat  passing  by.  He  reached  the  gate 
and  halted,  gazing  in  with  eager  eyes.  His 
quick  glance  compassed  the  green  nook,  passed 
over  the  sleeping  figure,  and  fixed  itself  upon 
my  face. 

The  song  died  away ;  I  leaned  forward, 
smiling,  and  laid  a  warning  finger  on  my  lip. 

He  made  me  a  bow  so  courtly  that  the 
feather  in  his  laced  hat  swept  the  ground. 

"  So,  seflorita,  the  caged  bird  can  sing  ?  " 

"When  her  jailer  wills  it  so,  Don  Pedro,"  I 
said  softly,  and  smiled — and  sighed — and  gave 
a  half-fearful  glance  over  my  shoulder;  then 
added,  in  a  lower  whisper :  "  And  when  she 
wills  otherwise,  I  must  be  silent." 

"  How,  would  she  even  keep  a  lock  upon  your 
lips?" 

"  Upon  my  lips — and  my  eyes  also.     Indeed, 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        113 

my  very  brows  are  under  her  jurisdiction,  and 
are  oft  constrained  to  frown,  against  their 
will ! " 

"  So !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  and  I  saw  a  sweet 
doubt  creep  over  his  face.  "  Must  I  place  to 
her  account  the  many  frowns  you  have  be 
stowed  on  me  ?  " 

"  Si,  senor — and  add  to  those  some  others 
that  would  not  be  coerced." 

The  fire  in  his  black  eyes  frightened  me 
not  a  little  as  he  whispered  : 

"  If  that  be  true,  then  grant  me  the  rose  in 
your  bosom,  lady !  " 

I  lifted  a  trembling  hand  to  the  flower,  and 
shot  a  frightened  glance  at  the  sefiora's  quiver 
ing  lashes. 

"  Oh  !  I  dare  not ! "  I  murmured,  and  let  my 
hand  fall  against  the  lute  upon  my  knee.  The 
jangling  strings  roused  the  pretended  sleeper 
from  her  dreams. 

She  half  rose,  and,  seizing  a  pillow  from  her 
couch,  hurled  it  at  me,  saying  angrily :  "  Here 
is  for  such  awkwardness  !  " 

The  soft  missile  failed  of  its  proper  mark ; 
but  found  another  in  the  green  parrot,  who 
was  dangling,  head  downward,  from  his  perch ; 
and  there  was  an  angry  squawk  from  the 
insulted  bird. 

I  threw  a  timorous  glance  toward  the  gate- 


H4        THE  S  TOR  Y  OF  MARGARE  T  TUD  OR. 

way,  motioning  the  intruder  away.  He  would 
have  lingered,  being  to  all  appearances  greatly 
angered  at  the  discourteous  treatment  of  my 
lady  warder;  but  prudence  prevailed,  and  he 
fell  back  out  of  sight,  with  a  hand  upon  his 
heart,  protesting  dumbly. 

The  comedy  had  just  begun.  Now  it 
must  be  played  through  to  the  end. 

It  is  a  strange  thing  to  see  the  zest  with 
which  my  gentle  jailer  prepares,  each  day,  an 
ambush  for  the  unwary  foe,  and  how  he  always 
falls  into  the  trap — to  be  assailed  by  me  with 
smiles,  and  soft  complaints,  piteous  appeals 
for  sympathy,  and  shy  admissions  of  my  tender 
friendship  ;  which  are  always  cut  short  by  some 
well-contrived  interruption  or  the  sudden 
appearance  of  Dona  Orosia  on  the  scene. 
Though  only  a  week  has  passed,  already  Don 
Pedro  would  take  oath  that  I  love  him  well. 

Early  this  morning  I  heard  him  underneath 
my  window  ;  and  I  was  right  glad  of  the  chance 
to  smile  on  him  from  behind  the  protecting 
bars.  This  meeting  had  not  been  of  Dona 
Orosia's  contriving,  so  I  thought  I  would  use  it 
for  my  own  ends. 

I  vowed  to  him  that  I  was  unhappy — which 
was  true.  I  protested  that  I  was  sick  with  long 
ing  for  freedom — and  that,  too,  was  no  lie. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        115 

But  to  that  I  added  a  whole  tissue  of  falsehood, 
declaring  that  I  had  never  drawn  a  free  breath 
since  I  came  into  the  world  ;  that  my  uncle  had 
been  a  tyrant,  and  the  man  to  whom  he  had 
betrothed  me  was  jealous  and  exacting;  that  I 
had  been  brought  across  the  seas  against  my 
will ;  and  that  I  dreaded  the  hardships  of  life 
in  this  new  country.  I  said  I  had  no  wish  to 
rejoin  the  English  settlers,  and  I  denied,  with 
tears,  any  partiality  for  my  dear  love.  Heaven 
forgive  me  !  but  I  professed  I  loved  Don  Pedro 
better  than  any  man  I  had  ever  seen,  and  I 
entreated  him  to  take  me  away  from  these  bar 
barous  shores. 

i  had  not  thought  that  I  could  move  him, 
yet,  strange  to  say,  the  man  seemed  touched. 
I  wondered  as  I  listened  to  him,  for  I  had 
thought  him  all  bad,  and  deemed  his  passion 
but  a  passing  fancy.  He  was  speaking  now  of 
Habana,  a  city  of  some  refinement,  where,  as 
his  wife,  I  would  enjoy  the  companionship  of 
other  ladies  of  my  own  station. 

"  I'd  never  suffer  thee  to  live  here,  my  fair 
est  lady,  where  yon  dark  devil  of  a  woman 
could  vent  her  spite  on  thee  !  "  he  whispered 
softly  ;  and  my  conscience  smote  me,  for  I  was 
playing  with  a  man's  heart,  of  flesh  and  blood. 

But  I  bethought  me,  if  there  was  in  truth 
any  good  in  that  heart,  I  would  dare  appeal  to 


1 1 6        THE  S  TOR  Y  OF  MARGARE  T  TUDOR. 

it ;  for  I  mistrusted  that  at  any  time  Dona 
Orosia  would  break  her  promised  word. 

".Truly,  Don  Pedro,  I  would  go  gladly,  for 
I  hate  the  very  sight  of  these  walls ;  but — if 
you  love  me — I  would  crave  of  your  gracious- 
ness  another  boon.  Set  free  the  English  gen 
tleman  who  was  my  promised  husband,  and 
send  him,  with  the  other  prisoners,  back  to  his 
friends." 

There  was  no  answer,  and  I  feared  I  had 
overstepped  the  mark ;  but  I  dared  further. 

"  Senor  de  Melinza,"  I  said,  "  it  is  true  that 
I  come  of  a  race  for  which  you  have  no  love, 
and  that  I  hold  a  creed  which  you  condemn ; 
nevertheless  it  must  be  remembered  that  we 
have  our  own  code  of  chivalry,  and  there 
have  lived  and  died  in  England  as  brave  knights 
and  true  as  even  your  valiant  Cid.  I  would 
not  have  the  man  I  am  to  wed  guilty  of  an 
unknightly  act.  Therefore  be  generous.  You 
have  been  mutually  wounded;  but  it  was  in 
fair  duello," — this  I  said  feigning  ignorance  of 
the  coward  blow  that  so  nearly  reached  my 
dear  love's  heart, — "  and  now,  Don  Pedro,  it 
would  be  the  more  honourable  to  set  free  the 
countryman  of  your  promised  bride  and  send 
him  in  safety  to  his  friends." 

"  Senorita,"  said  the  Spaniard, — and  there 
\vas  a  cloud  upon  his  brow, — "  I  would  you 


THE  STOR  Y  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        1 1 7 

had  asked  me  any  boon  but  this.  Neverthe 
less  I  give  you  my  knightly  word  that  the 
man  shall  go,  and  go  unharmed." 

"I  thank  you,  Don  Pedro,"  I  said,  and 
fought  down  the  cry  of  joy  that  struggled  to 
my  lips.  Then,  because  I  could  find  no  other 
words,  and  feared  to  fail  in  the  part  I  had  to 
play,  I  took  Dame  Barbara's  scissors  and  cut 
off  a  long  lock  of  my  yellow  hair,  bound  it 
with  riband,  and  threw  it  down  to  him  as  guer 
don  for  the  favour  he  had  granted  me. 

This  noon,  when  I  joined  the  Governor's 
wife  as  usual  under  the  vine-hung  balcony,  I 
boasted  cheerfully  of  the  promise  I  had  wrung 
from  Melinza;  and  she  demanded  at  once  to 
hear  all  that  had  passed  between  us, — then 
called  me  a  fool  for  my  pains ! 

"  Little  marplot !  Had  you  shown  less  con 
cern  for  the  fate  of  your  Englishman,  it  would 
have  been  vastly  better.  You  do  but  cast  ob 
stacles  in  my  way.  There  is  nothing  for  me 
to  do  now  but  hotly  to  oppose  his  leaving  ! 
If  needs  must  I  will  pretend  a  liking  for  the 
man  myself,  and  vow  to  hold  him  as  my  guest 
yet  a  while  longer,  for  the  sake  of  his  pretty 
wit  and  his  gallant  bearing, — any  device  to 
throw  dust  in  their  eyes,  so  that  we  seem  not 
to  be  of  the  same  minds  and  putting  up  the 
selfsame  plea.  Oh !  little  saint  with  the  blue 
eyes,  your  metier  is  not  diplomacy  !  " 


n8        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

"In  sooth,  seflora,  till  you  first  taught  me 
to  dissemble  I  was  unlessoned  in  the  art." 

She  laughed  then,  and  said  that  when  I  had 
less  faith  in  others  I  could  more  easily  deceive. 

"  If  the  little  Margarita  believed  Melinza's 

.  pretty  fable  about  Habana,  and  the  excellent 

company   there  which  his  wife  would  enjoy, 

'tis  no  wonder  that  she  made  a  tangle  of  her 

own  little  web." 

"  But  Dona  Orosia,  think  you  he  would  deal 
unfairly  with  me  ?  His  words  rang  so  true — 
even  a  bad  man  may  love  honestly !  And  if 
I  trifle  with  the  one  saving  virtue  in  his  heart, 
will  it  not  be  a  grievous  sin  ?  " 

The  mocking  smile  died  out  of  the  Spaniard's 
eyes  and  left  them  fathomless  and  sombre. 

I  felt  as  one  who — looking  into  an  open 
window,  and  seeing  the  light  of  a  taper  glanc 
ing  and  flickering  within — draws  back  abashed, 
when  suddenly  the  flame  is  quenched,  and  only 
the  hollow  dark  stares  back  at  his  blinded 
gaze. 

"  If  he  loves  you,"  she  said  slowly,  "  it  is 
but  as  he  has  loved  before,  more  times  than 
one.  He  would  skim  the  cream  of  passion, 
brush  the  dew  from  the  flower,  crush  the  first 
sweetness  from  the  myrtle-blooms, — and  leave 
the  rest.  You  child,  what  do  you  know  of 
men  ?  It  is  only  the  unattainable  that  is  worth 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        "9 

striving  for.  There  is  much  of  the  brute 
beast  in  their  passions.  Did  you  mark,  the 
other  day,  how  the  dead  hound  turned  a  scorn 
ful  nozzle  to  the  first  sweet  morsel  that  I  pressed 
on  his  acceptance  ?  But  afterward,  the 
fear  of  losing  it  made  him  eager  to  the  leaping- 
point.  Just  so  I  shall  trick  his  master — shall 
let  him  see  thee,  almost  grasp  and  taste ;  then, 
when  the  moment  of  mad  longing  comes,  I'll 
stab  him  with  the  final  loss  of  thee !  Only  so 
can  I  arouse  a  desire  that  will  outlive  a  day ; 
for  I  know  men's  hearts  to  the  core,  thou  blue- 
eyed  babe ! " 

"  Senora,"  I  cried,  stung  by  her  scornful 
words,  "  I  cannot  say  I  know  men's  hearts ; 
but  I  do  know  the  heart  of  one  true  gentle 
man  ;  and  I  believe,  when  he  had  won  from 
me  the  betrothal  kiss,  I  was  not  less  desirable 
in  his  eyes  !  " 

"  So  you  believe,"  she  said,  and  shook  her 
head.  "  Bueno,  go  on  believing — while  you 
can.  Woman's  faith  in  man's  fealty  lives  just 

so  long "  and  she  bent  forward  from  her 

couch,  plucked  a  fragile  blossom  from  the 
swaying  vines,  and  cast  it  under  foot. 

I  would  have  spoken  again  of  my  trust  in 
the  leal  true  heart  that  trusted  me ;  but 
I  saw  the  trembling  of  the  laces  on  her  bosom,  I 
saw  the  dark  eyes  growing  more  angerful,  and 


120        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

a  slow  crimson  rising  in  the  rich  cheek.  She 
was  always  "  studying  her  revenge," — this 
beautiful,  unhappy  woman,  "keeping  her 
wounds  green  which  otherwise  might  heal  and 
do  well." 

As  I  watched  her  a  great  pity  overcame  me, 
so  that  I  held  my  peace. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  2Oth  of  March — a  day  never  to  be  for 
got ! 

I  have  seen  Mr.  Rivers.  It  is  the  first  time 
since  that  night — nine  months  ago.  I  have 
seen  him  and  spoken  with  him  in  the  presence 
of  Melinza,  Dona  Orosia,  and  the  Governor. 

Whatever  may  befall  us  now,  nothing  can 
take  away  the  memory  of  this  last  hour.  If 
ever  we  leave  these  walls  together  and  taste 
freedom  again,  it  will  have  been  dearly  bought. 
A  maid's  truth  tarnished,  and  the  brave  heart 
of  a  most  loyal  gentleman  robbed  of  its  faith ! 
Dear  God,  what  a  price  to  pay  ! 

'Twas  noon  when  Dona  Orosia  came  herself 
to  fetch  me. 

"  There  is  some  deviltry  afoot,"  she  said. 
"  I  cannot  fathom  it  as  yet ;  but,  as  you  hope 
for  freedom  for  yourself  and  your  Englishman, 
don't  fail  to  play  your  part  to  the  end.  Come 
quickly  !  Melinza  demands  to  see  you,  and 
the  Governor  permits  it.  Don't  blame  me, 
child — I  can  do  nothing  to  prevent  it.  But, 
I  warn  you,  act  the  part,  whatever  it  may  cost 
you." 


122        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

I  followed  her,  as  in  a  dream,  along  the  cor- 
ridor,  into  the  room  where  the  old  Governor 
sat  in  his  arm-chair  beside  a  carved  table, 
whereon  were  a  decanter  of  wine,  glasses  half 
drained,  and  a  litter  of  playing-cards.  He 
drummed  upon  the  table  with  his  withered  rin 
gers,  and  looked  uneasily,  first  at  his  wife's 
flushed  face  as  she  entered  the  door,  and  then 
at  the  determined  countenance  of  Melinza, 
who  was  standing  before  the  heavy  arras  which 
divided  that  room  from  another  in  the  rear. 

"  Dona  Margarita,"  said  the  Governor,  clear 
ing  his  throat  nervously,  "  is  it  so  that  you  are 
detained  within  my  house  against  your  will  ?  " 

"  Your  Excellency,"  I  began,  and  was  thank 
ful  I  could  speak  truth,  "  I,  and  all  the  other 
English,  have  been  held  here  in  San  Augustin 
for  many  a  long  month  against  our  will." 

"  Without  the  orders  of  the  Spanish  Council 
I  could  not  liberate  you,  senorita  ;  though  now 
we  purpose  to  do  so,  having  authority.  But 
concerning  yourself — Melinza  assures  me  that 
you  do  not  desire  to  be  sent  with  your  country 
men." 

I  felt  my  heart  grow  cold.  Must  I  still  cling 
to  the  lie  ?  I  looked  at  Dona  Orosia,  whose 
black  eyes  flashed  a  warning. 

"  That  is  true,  Sefior  de  Colis,"  I  said,  and 
my  voice  sounded  far  off  and  strange. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR,        123 

"You  would  wish  to  remain  here  as  my 
guest  and  companion,  Margarita,"  said  the 
Governor's  wife  in  vehement  tones. 

I  looked  at  her  in  wonder.  What  did  they 
desire  between  them  ?  My  head  swam,  and  I 
would  have  said  Yes  to  her  also  ;  but  her  black 
eyes  menaced  me  again.  I  drew  a  deep  breath 
and  shook  my  head.  "  No,  please  your  Excel 
lency." 

Melinza  smiled  a  slow  triumphant  smile. 
"  Dona  Orosia  is  unfortunate.  I  trust  I  shall 
be  more  successful.  You  would  rather  go  to 
Habana  as  my  companion, — is  it  not  so,  Mar 
garita  mia  ?  " — and  he  stepped  forward  and 
held  forth  his  hand  to  me. 

One  day  in  the  early  spring  Dona  Orosia 
had  called  me  to  see  a  new  pet  which  had  been 
brought  to  her,  a  young  crocodile,  loathsome 
and  hideous  ;  and  she  had  forced  me  to  touch 
the  tethered  monster  as  it  crawled,  the  length 
of  its  chain,  over  the  floor.  I  do  remember 
the  cold  disgust  I  felt  at  the  horrid  contact ; 
but  it  was  as  naught  to  the  feeling  that  passed 
over  me  when  I  let  the  Spaniard  take  my  hand. 

He  drew  me  toward  him,  laughing  softly. 
"  Who  doubts  that  the  lady  goes  willingly?" 
and  lifted  his  voice  with  a  defiant  question  in 
its  ringing  tones. 

"  I  do,  senor  !  " — and   it  was  my  dear  love 


124        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

who  pushed  aside  the  arras  and  came  forward 
into  the  room, — my  dear  love,  wasted  by  fever 
and  long  imprisonment,  white  and  gaunt  and 
spectral,  yet  bearing  himself  with  all  his  olden 
dignity. 

The  Spaniard  turned  to  meet  him,  holding 
me  still  within  the  circle  of  his  arm.  I  gave 
one  final  glance  at  the  Governor's  wife  and 
read  my  cue.  After  that  I  could  see  nothing 
but  my  love's  white  face. 

"  Have  I  lied  to  you,  Senor  Englishman  ? 
Do  you  believe,  now,  that  I  hold  that  golden 
tress  as  a  pledge  of  future  favours  ?  The  lady 
on  whose  faith  you  were  ready  to  stake  your 
soul  is  here  to  answer  for  herself,  and  she  has 
thrown  in  her  lot  with  me — with  me,  senor." 

"  Margaret — Margaret !  "  cried  my  dear  love, 
"  tell  him  he  lies,  sweetheart !  " 

I  opened  my  lips,  but  the  words  died  on  my 
tongue.  Again  my  poor  love  cried  to  me, 
holding  out  his  arms.  I  saw  his  white 
face  grow  paler  still,  and  he  swayed  uncertainly 
where  he  stood.  Then,  gathering  all  his 
strength,  he  threw  himself  upon  the  Spaniard 
and  would  have  torn  us  apart,  had  not  his 
weak  limbs  given  way,  so  that  he  fell  prone 
upon  the  floor. 

Melinza's  hand  went  to  his  sword ;  he  drew 
the  blade  and  held  it  to  my  dear  love's  throat. 


'  SPARE  THE  MAN,  DON  PEDRO  !     I  LIKE  NOT  THE 
SIGHT  OF  BLOOD."—  P<*g€  S2j. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        125 

At  last  my  voice  came  back  to  me ;  I  laid 
my  hand  upon  the  Spaniard's  arm.  "  Spare 
the  man,  Don  Pedro  !  I  like  not  the  sight  of 
blood ! " 

Then  I  saw  mortal  agony  in  a  brave  man's 
eyes.  He  made  no  move  to  rise,  but  lay  there 
at  my  feet  and  looked  at  me. 

"  Margaret  Tudor,"  he  said,  "  do  you  love 
me  still?" 

I  looked  down  at  him.  If  I  spoke  truth, 
Melinza's  blade  would  soon  cut  short  his  hear 
ing  of  it.  A  wild  laugh  rose  in  my  throat ;  I 
could  not  hold  it  back,  and  it  rang  out,  merrily 
mad,  in  the  silent  room. 

"  Senores,"  I  said,  "  Senores,  I  love  a  brave 
man,  not  a  coward ! "  and  that  was  truth, 
though  none  in  that  room  read  me  aright,  save 
Dona  Orosia. 

The  man  at  my  side  laughed  with  me,  and 
he  at  my  feet  gave  me  one  look  and  swooned 
away. 

Melinza  sheathed  his  sword,  saying,  "  Your 
Excellency,  the  prisoner  appears  convinced  ; 
so  you  can  scarce  doubt  the  evidence  your 
self." 

The  Governor  cleared  his  throat  again,  and 
glanced  helplessly  toward  his  wife.  She 
stepped  forward  with  scornful  composure  and 
took  my  arm. 


126        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

"  Things  are  come  to  a  pretty  pass,  Seftor 
de  Colis,  when  Don  Pedro  brings  his  prisoners 
under  this  roof  and  your  wife  is  made  a  wit 
ness  to  a  brawl.  I  crave  your  leave  to  with 
draw  ;  and  I  take  this  girl  with  me  till  the 
question  of  her  guardianship  is  settled." 
Then,  still  holding  me  by  the  arm,  she  left  the 
room  ;  and  neither  of  the  two  men  ventured 
to  stop  our  progress. 

Arrived  at  my  chamber  Dona  Orosia  opened 
the  door  and  thrust  me  in,  bidding  me  draw  the 
bolt  securely. 

I  was  left  alone  with  my  thoughts.  Such 
thoughts  as  they  are !  I  cannot  weep  ;  my 
eyes  are  hot  and  dry.  There  is  no  grief  like 
unto  this.  Oh,  my  mother !  when  your  be 
loved  clasped  you  to  his  heart  in  that  last 
farewell,  there  were  between  you  thoughts  of 
parting,  of  bodily  pains  to  be  borne,  of  scourg- 
ings  and  fetters, — aye,  and  of  death.  But 
what  were  those  compared  with  what  I  have  to 
bear,  who  am  humbled  in  the  sight  of  my  dear 
love? 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

AFTER  writing  these  words  I  cast  aside  my 
pen,  and,  throwing  myself  upon  the  bed, 
buried  my  face  in  the  pillow.  I  could  feel  the 
drumming  pulses  in  my  ears,  and  my  heart 
swelled  till  it  was  like  to  burst  within  my 
bosom.  Though  I  pressed  my  hot  fingers 
against  my  close-shut  eyes,  I  still  could  see 
my  poor  love's  white,  set  face,  the  great  hol 
lows  in  his  bearded  cheeks,  the  blue  veins  on 
his  thin  temples,  and  the  large  eyes,  one  mo 
ment  all  love-lighted,  the  next,  stricken  with 
horror  at  the  sight  of  my  unfaith. 

How  long  I  lay  there  I  can  scarcely  tell.  It 
was  many  hours  after  noon  when  I  heard 
heavy  steps  without  my  door,  which  suddenly 
began  to  shake  as  though  one  beat  upon  it 
with  frantic  hands. 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  I  cried,  lifting  my  head. 

"  Oh  !  Mistress  Margaret!  a  God's  mercy — 
undo  the  door!  " 

I  drew  the  bolt  in  haste,  and  Dame  Barbara 
burst  in  and  dropped  down,  weeping,  at  my 
feet. 

"  Lord   love  ye,  Mistress   Margaret !    Lord 


128        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

help  us  both  this  day  !  They  have  sent  off  all 
our  men  to  meet  the  blessed  English  ship — and 
we  two  poor  women  left  behind  !  " 

I  could  not  think  it  true.  I  seized  the  weep 
ing  dame  by  her  heaving  shoulders  and  fairly 
dragged  her  to  her  feet,  demanding  what  proof 
she  had  that  this  was  so.  She  pointed  dumbly 
to  the  window,  and  fell  a-sobbing  louder  than 
before. 

Then  I  looked  out. 

The  Carolina  frigate  stood  off  the  bar  of 
Matanzas  Bay,  and  over  the  waves,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  frigate,  went  a  small  boat  impelled 
by  the  brawny  arms  of  six  swarthy  Spaniards. 
With  them  were  the  English  prisoners :  I  saw 
the  honest  face  of  Captain  Baulk,  and  next 
him  worthy  Master  Collins ;  also  the  three  sea 
men  of  the  Barbadian  sloop ;  and  another, 
whom  I  did  not  know,  but  guessed  to  be  the 
second  of  the  two  unlucky  messengers ;  and — 
in  the  midst  of  all — my  dear  love. 

He  lay  full  length,  his  white  face  resting 
against  the  good  captain's  knees;  and  my 
first  thought  was  one  of  terror  lest  he  was 
dead  :  but  I  saw  him  lift  himself,  and  give  one 
long  look  at  the  castle  walls,  then  fall  back 
as  before — and  I  knew,  in  that  moment,  he 
put  me  from  his  heart  forever. 

They  were  gone,    all   gone.     Dona   Orosia 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        129 

had  played  me  false — God  had  turned  His  face 
from  me — and  the  man  I  loved  would  never 
love  me  more. 

I  turned  away  from  the  window  to  the 
weeping  dame,  and  I  laughed,  laughed  again 
as  I  had  done  in  the  face  of  my  dear  love 
that  very  morn. 

"The  piece  is  near  ended,  dame,"  I  said. 
"  'Tis  almost  time  to  pray  God  save  His 
Majesty  and  draw  the  curtain.  But  what 
strange  tricks  does  Fate  play  sometimes  with 
her  helpless  puppets  !  She  did  cast  us,  long 
ago,  for  a  lightsome  comedy,  and  lo !  'tis 
to  be  a  tragedy  instead  !  Think  you,  dear 
Barbara,  that  death  would  come  easier  by 
means  of  yonder  bed-cord,  or  of  those  great 
scissors  dangling  at  thy  waist  ?  Or,  perhaps, 
if  thou  couldst  play  Othello  to  my  Desdemona, 
it  might  seem  a  gentler  prelude  to  the  grave. 
How  heavy  is  a  lie,  good  dame?  Think  you 
it  would  drag  a  soul  to  hell  ?  If  so,  I  need  not 
to  go  alone ;  for  if  I  lied  to  Melinza,  he  also 
lied  to  me — and  Dona  Orosia  also  " —  then  a 
strong  shudder  shook  my  frame.  "  Barbara, 
Barbara,  must  I  e'en  have  their  company  for 
all  eternity  ?  " 

She  ran  to  me,  good  soul,  and  hushed  me 
like  a  child  to  her  ample  bosom. 

"  Lord  help  ye,  dear  lamb  !  And  He  will— 


130        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

He  will !  "  I  heard  her  say  over  and  over  ;  then 
everything  turned  dark  before  my  eyes,  and  I 
thought  death  had  come  to  me  indeed. 

When  consciousness  returned  I  lay  upon 
my  bed  in  a  gray  twilight,  and  beside  me  were 
Dame  Barbara  and  the  Governor's  wife. 

As  my  eyes  fell  upon  Dona  Orosia,  I  cried 
out  bitterly  that  I  had  been  a  fool  to  trust 
even  to  her  hate ;  for  now  she  had  grown 
weary  of  her  revenge,  and  would  discard  her 
tool  without  paying  the  price  for  it. 

She  covered  my  mouth  with  her  hand, 
laughing  shortly. 

"  Melinza  thinks  he  has  been  too  sharp  for 
me.  He  despatched  the  prisoners  in  great 
haste  to  the  English  ship  without  my  knowl 
edge.  I  went  to  him  just  now  and  demanded 
to  know  if  he  dared  to  send  away  Senor  Rivers 
without  leave  from  me. 

"  '  Aye,'  he  said,  and  bowed  to  me.  '  Since 
Dofia  Orosia  desired  for  some  reason  to  detain 
him  here,  I  thought  it  best  to  be  rid  of  him  at 
once  ;  but  the  girl  remains.' 

" '  The  girl  remains  in  my  guardianship,' 
said  I. 

" '  Until  to-morrow,'  Melinza  answered. 
'  To-morrow  the  Virgen  de  la  Mar  returns  to 
Habana,  and  with  her  go  the  English  girl  and 
your  humble  servant.' 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.    131 

" '  The  Governor/  I  cried,  •  will  not  permit 
it!' 

'"Will  he  not?  Ask  him,'  said  Melinza, 
'  ask  his  Excellency  the  Governor  of  San  Au- 
gustin  ! '  Then  he  laughed  at  me — Dios  !  he 
laughed  at  me  !  " 

She  bit  her  red  lip  at  the  remembrance,  and 
clenched  her  white  hands. 

"And  did  you  ask  the  Governor,  seflora  ?" 

She  nodded  fiercely.  "The  old  dotard! 
He  did  but  shrug  his  shoulders  and  offer  me  a 
diamond  necklace  in  exchange  for  my  pretty 
puppet  of  a  plaything.  It  is  plain  Melinza 
has  some  hold  upon  him,  what  it  is  I  cannot 
guess  ;  but  it  is  stronger  than  my  wishes.  He 
would  sooner  brave  my  anger  than  oppose  his 
nephew's  schemes." 

I  watched  the  dark  shadow  settling  on  her 
brow,  and  I  thought  all  hope  was  over. 

"  Dona  Orosia,"  I  said  at  last,  "  will  you 
lend  me  your  dagger?" 

"  Not  yet,  child — not  unless  there  is  no 
other  way  to  thwart  them  both.  Look — " 
she  said,  and  threw  a  purse  of  gold  pieces  on 
the  bed  beside  me.  "  This  is  your  purchase 
money,  and  'twill  serve  to  buy  assistance. 
When  I  could  make  no  better  terms,  I  was 
forced  to  take  this  and  a  kiss  to  boot — Pah  !  " 
and  she  rubbed  her  cheek.  "  To-morrow, 


132         THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

when  the  tide  is  full,  the  Virgen  de  la  Mar 
will  leave  the  harbour.  Before  then  I  must 
contrive  your  escape." 

"And  Barbara's,"  I  added,  for  I  could  see 
the  poor  dame  was  in  deep  anxiety. 

Dona  Orosia  stared.  "  Upon  my  soul,  we 
had  all  forgotten  the  old  woman.  She  might 
have  gone  well  enough  with  the  other  prisoners ; 
but  how  am  I  to  smuggle  two  women  from 
the  town  ?  " 

Then  I  besought  her  not  to  separate  me 
from  the  dame,  to  whom  I  clung  as  my  last 
friend ;  and  after  a  time  she  yielded  me  a 
grudging  promise  and  left  me,  bidding  me 
make  ready  for  the  evening  meal,  at  which  I 
must  appear  in  order  not  to  arouse  the  Gov 
ernor's  suspicions. 

My  hands  were  cold  and  trembling;  but 
with  Barbara's  aid  I  decked  me  out  in  one  of 
the  gay  gowns  which  had  been  given  me  by 
my  protectress,  and,  taking  up  a  fan — with 
which  I  had  learned  the  Spanish  trick  of 
screening  my  face  upon  occasion — I  joined  the 
Governor  and  his  beautiful  spouse  in  the 
brightly  lighted  comedor,  where  covers  at  table 
were  laid  for  three.  I  was  thankful  for  Me- 
linza's  absence,  for  to  play  at  love-making  that 
night  would  have  been  beyond  my  powers. 

At  first  I  could  eat  nothing  ;  but  an  urgent 


THE  STORY  OP  MARGARET  TUDOR.        133 

glance  from  Dona  Orosia,  and  the  thought  of 
what  need  there  would  be  for  all  my  strength 
prompted  me  to  force  some  morsels,  in  spite 
of  the  convulsive  swelling  of  my  throat.  I 
made  shift,  also,  to  answer  when  addressed  by 
either  host  or  hostess ;  but  the  Governor  was 
in  no  great  spirits  himself  and  seemed  to 
stand  in  some  awe  of  his  lady's  frown. 

Suddenly,  without  the  door,  sounded  voices 
in  altercation,  and  a  servant  entered,  protest 
ing  with  many  apologies  that  there  was  a 
reverend  father  without  who  demanded  to  see 
his  Excellency  at  once  on  a  matter  that  would 
brook  no  delay. 

The  Governor  leaned  back  in  his  chair  with 
an  air  of  great  annoyance ;  but  Dona  Orosia 
said  quickly,  "  Bid  the  father  enter." 

A  tall  form  in  a  friar's  dark  habit  appeared 
on  the  threshold.  I  recognized,  under  the 
cowl,  the  thin,  sallow  face  and  the  sombre 
eyes.  I  had  seen  them  at  the  door  of  the 
chapel  in  the  castle  courtyard  on  the  night 
of  our  arrival,  and  many  times  since.  They 
belonged  to  Padre  Felipe,  the  confessor  of  the 
Governor's  wife,  and  her  adviser,  I  believed,  in 
affairs  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual.  Some 
thing  told  me  he  had  come  hither  at  her  bid 
ding,  and  I  glanced  at  her  for  confirmation ; 
but  Dofta  Orosia  leaned  with  one  elbow  on  the 


134        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

table,  her  chin  upon  her  white  hand,  the  other 
rounded  arm  outstretched  with  an  almond  in 
the  slim  fingers  for  the  delectation  of  the 
green  parrot  on  his  perch  beside  her.  Not  a 
flicker  of  interest  was  visible  on  her  beautiful, 
sullen  face  ;  so  I  turned  away  with  some  dis 
appointment  to  hear  what  the  padre  was  saying. 

His  voice  was  low-pitched  and  husky,  and  I 
could  scarce  distinguish  what  he  said,  save 
that  it  concerned  someone  who  was  ill — nay, 
dead,  it  seemed,  and  needing  instant  burial. 

The  Governor  listened  with  a  gathering 
scowl  upon  his  face,  till  suddenly  he  started 
up  with  such  haste  that  his  chair  fell  back 
ward  with  a  noisy  clatter. 

"  Santa  Maria  !  Dead  of  the  black  vomit  ? 
And  you  come  hither  with  the  vile  contagion 
clinging  to  your  very  garments  !  " 

"  Nay,"  said  the  friar's  deep,  hollow  voice, 
as  he  lifted  a  reassuring  hand.  "  I  have 
changed  my  robes.  You  and  yours  are  in  no 
danger,  my  son." 

"  In  no  danger !  "  repeated  the  Governor,  his 
face  becoming  purple  and  his  voice  choked  ; 
"  no  danger,  when  the  foul  carcass  lies  un- 
buried,  tainting  the  very  air  with  death ! 
Throw  it  over  in  the  sea — nay,  set  fire  to  the 
miserable  hut  in  which  it  lies,  and  let  all  be 
consumed  together !  " 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.    135 

"  Who  is  it  that  is  dead  ?  "  asked  Dona  Oro- 
sia.  She  had  risen,  and  stood  with  one  hand 
holding  back  her  skirts,  her  full,  red  upper  lip 
slightly  drawn,  and  her  delicate  nostrils  dilated, 
as  though  the  very  mention  of  the  loathly  dis 
ease  filled  her  with  disgust. 

"  A  wretched  half-breed  boy,  some  thieving 
member  of  the  padre's  flock,"  exclaimed  the 
Governor  impatiently.  "  Set  fire  to  the  hut, 
I  say !  " 

But  Dona  Orosia  interrupted  once  again. 
"  Padre,  what  is  it  that  you  desire?  " 

The  sombre  eyes  were  turned  on  her  for  the 
first  time.  "  The  boy  was  a  Christian,  my 
daughter,  and  I  would  give  him  Christian 
burial." 

"  Surely,"  said  Dona  Orosia.  "  What  is  to 
prevent?  " 

"  Would  you  spread  the  infection  through 
the  town  ?"  exclaimed  the  Governor,  white 
with  fear. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  friar,  "  I  ask  but  a  permit 
to  take  the  body  without  the  gates.  None 
but  I  and  a  few  of  my  followers  need  be 
exposed  to  danger.  Let  a  bell  be  rung 
before  us,  to  warn  all  in  the  streets  to  stand 
away  ;  and  we  will  carry  a  vessel  of  strong 
incense  before  the  bier.  Those  who  go  out 
with  me,  I  pledge  you  my  word,  shall  not 


136        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

return  for  some  days  till  they  are  free  of  all 
taint  themselves." 

"  My  plan  is  better, — to  burn  hut,  corpse, 
and  all,"  replied  the  Governor.  But  Padre 
Felipe  turned  on  him  fiercely. 

"  How  shall  I  keep  my  hold  upon  my  people, 
and  they  retain  their  faith  in  consecrated 
things,  if  you  treat  a  Christian's  body  as  you 
would  the  carcass  of  a  dog  ?  " 

"  As  you  will,"  the  Governor  exclaimed  ; 
and,  throwing  himself  into  a  chair,  he  called 
for  pen  and  paper.  "  Here,"  he  added  pres 
ently,  "  deliver  this  to  Don  Pedro  de  Melinza, 
and  bid  him  warn  the  sentries  at  the  gate. 
Say,  furthermore,  that  if  any  one  in  the  town 
comes  within  twenty  paces  of  the  bier,  out  of 
the  gate  he  shall  go  also." 

The  friar  received  the  permit  silently,  lifted 
his  hand  in  benediction,  and  left  the  apart 
ment. 

As  my  glance  returned  from  the  doorway 
it  met  that  of  Dona  Orosia,  and  in  hers  there 
was  a  passing  flash  of  triumph.  Soon  after, 
she  rose,  and  together  we  withdrew.  I  felt 
her  hand  upon  my  arm  tighten  convulsively  ; 
but  I  walked  on  with  the  same  sense  of  un 
reality  that  had  oppressed  me  all  the  day. 

When  we  reached  my  chamber  she  bade 
me  change  my  dress  again  for  something  dark 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        13? 

and  warm  ;  for  the  night  air  was  damp  and 
chill.  As  I  did  so  I  slipped  within  my 
bosom  the  roll  of  closely  written  pages  con 
taining  these  annals  of  my  prisonment.  Then 
I  asked  for  Barbara,  and  Dofta  Orosia  quietly 
replied, — 

"  She  has  gone  upon  an  errand  and  will 
join  us  in  due  time."  Then  she  threw  a 
mantle  over  my  head,  wrapped  herself  in 
another,  and  led  me  out  into  the  garden. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IT  was  a  moonless  night,  and  a  haze  of  cloud 
obscured  the  stars.  We  passed  silently  under 
the  vine-covered  arbour,  across  the  garden,  to 
the  gateway.  Into  the  heavy  lock  Dofta 
Orosia  slipped  a  great  key ;  it  turned  easily, 
the  door  swung  open,  and  we  stepped  out. 
Locking  it  once  more,  my  companion  took 
my  arm  and  hurried  me  along  the  dark,  de 
serted  street.  We  turned  a  corner,  came  upon 
an  open  square,  and  paused  beside  a  huge 
palmetto  that  grew  near  the  centre.  I  heard 
the  crisp  rustle  of  its  leaves  in  the  night  wind, 
and  I  shivered  with  a  nameless  dread. 

Then,  through  the  darkness,  two  dim  forms 
approached  us.  My  heart  beat  quickly,  and  I 
drew  the  mantle  closer  round  my  face ;  but 
one  of  them  proved  to  be  the  friar,  the  other, 
my  dear,  dear  Barbara.  I  sprang  to  meet  her 
with  a  quick  cry ;  but  Dona  Orosia  laid  a 
hand  upon  my  lips  and  hurried  me  on.  Padre 
Felipe  now  led  the  way,  and  we  followed  him 
for  some  moments  more  until  he  paused  be 
fore  a  low  doorway  and  motioned  us  to  enter. 

"Senora,"  I  whispered,  "why  do  you  come? 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        139 

I  have  no  fear  of  the  disease,  but  why  should 
you  needlessly  expose  yourself  ?  ' 

"  Little  fool,"  she  answered,  pushing  me 
gently  on,  "  there  is  no  fever,  no  contagion 
here." 

Wondering  still,  I  entered  the  narrow  pass 
age,  and  beyond  it  a  dimly  lighted  room. 

On  the  floor  lay  a  long  wooden  stretcher 
covered  with  hide  ;  at  its  foot  and  head,  fixed 
each  in  a  rude  socket,  were  two  candles,  still 
unlighted.  A  brass  pot  with  long  chains,  and 
aheap  of  dark  cloth,  lay  upon  the  floor;  there 
was  also  a  rough  table  on  which  stood  a  bottle 
of  water  and  a  loaf  of  bread ;  otherwise, 
except  for  a  dim  lamp  upon  the  wall,  the  room 
was  empty.  Dona  Orosia  looked  around,  with 
quick  eyes  taking  in  every  detail ;  then  she 
turned  to  Padre  Felipe. 

"  Can  you  trust  the  bearers?" 

He  bowed  his  head. 

"Then  the  only  difficulty  is  this  old  woman. 
Better  to  leave  her  behind." 

But  again  I  pleaded  most  earnestly;  and 
presently  the  friar  left  the  room  and  returned 
soon  after  with  a  dingy  cloak,  with  which  he 
enveloped  the  poor  dame  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Let  her  follow  behind,"  he  said,  "  and  if 
there  is  no  trouble  she  may  pass  out  with  us." 
He  charged  her,  then,  to  keep  her  face  hidden 


140        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

and  to  stand  well  away  from  the  light  of  the 
candles. 

After  that  there  was  a  pause,  and  the  Span 
ish  woman  and  the  friar  looked  at  each  other. 

"  See  you  do  not  fail !  "  she  said. 

"  And  remember  your  word,"  he  replied. 

"A  solid  silver  service  for  the  new  mission 
chapel  at  San  Juan, — I  swear  it,"  was  the  quick 
response  ;  "  that  is,  if  you  succeed." 

The  friar  folded  his  arms  silently. 

"  Nay,  then,  in  any  case !  only  do  your 
utmost,"  whispered  Dona  Orosia  hurriedly. 

"  The  result  is  as  God  wills  it,"  said  Padre 
Felipe  calmly,  and,  pointing  to  the  stretcher, 
he  bade  me  lie  down  upon  it.  I  did  so, 
trembling  in  every  limb,  and  he  would  have 
covered  me  over  with  the  wrappings  when 
the  Governor's  wife  pushed  him  aside,  knelt 
down  herself,  and  slipped  into  my  hand  a  little 
dagger,  whispering : 

"  In  case  you  are  discovered." 

I  hid  it  in  my  bosom,  thanking  her.  "  Fare 
well,  sefiora,"  I  said,  with  tears,  "  you  have 
been  kind  to  me  and  I  am  very  grateful. 
Whether  or  not  I  win  freedom  and  friends,  I 
believe  you  have  done  your  utmost  for  me. 
I  cannot  think  " — and  I  lifted  my  head  close 
to  hers  and  whispered — "  I  cannot  think  it  is 
for  revenge  alone.  There  must  be  some  pity 
prompting  it." 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        141 

"  Thou  little  foolish  one,"  she  said,  and 
laughed,  pushing  me  back  upon  the  bier. 
Then  suddenly  I  felt  a  hot  tear  drop  upon 
my  forehead.  She  stooped  lower  and  kissed 
me  on  the  cheek. 

I  gave  a  little  cry  and  would  have  risen 
again ;  but  she  drew  the  dark  coverings  over 
me  and  I  could  see  no  longer.  As  I  felt  her 
soft  hands  tucking  me  in,  as  a  mother  would 
her  babe,  I  could  only  weep  silently  and  pray 
God  bless  her. 

A  pungent  smoke  of  something  burning  filled 
the  room  and  reached  me  even  through  the  cov 
erings.  I  heard  the  padre  lighting  the  tapers  at 
my  head  and  feet.  After  a  time  the  stretcher 
on  which  I  lay  was  lifted  up  and  carried,  foot 
foremost,  from  the  room — out  of  the  passage 
and  into  the  street.  I  heard  the  feet  of  my 
bearers  pattering  on  the  ground  as  we  moved 
onward  at  a  swinging  pace ;  I  was  conscious 
of  the  heavy  smoke  of  burning  incense  that 
enveloped  us  ;  I  heard  the  sound  of  a  bell  go 
ing  before  me,  and  a  voice  raised  in  a  steady 
cry  of  warning ;  but  I  could  see  nothing  save 
a  faint  radiance  through  the  wrappings,  where 
the  candles  burned. 

After  a  time  there  was  a  halt  and  I  heard 
voices  in  dispute.  My  fingers  closed  around 
the  hilt  of  the  senora's  dagger.  If  death  must 


142        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

come,  so  be  it !  I  thought,  and  felt  no  fear, 
only  regret  that  my  dear  love  could  never  un 
derstand,  unless  the  spirit  that  quivered  so 
wildly  within  my  still  and  shrouded  form 
could  speed  to  him  in  the  first  moment  of 
its  freedom  and  whisper  the  truth  to  his 
heart  ! 

Another  voice  joined  in.  It  was  Melinza's 
own. 

"  Stand  back  !  "  he  called  loudly.  "  Out  of 
the  way,  slaves !  Who  dares  dispute  the  or 
ders  of  his  Excellency  ?  If  a  man  goes  within 
twenty  paces  of  that  leprous  crew  he  may 
follow  them  to  perdition ;  but  there'll  be 
no  longer  any  room  for  him  within  these 
walls !  " 

A  murmur  rose,  and  died  away  in  the  dis 
tance.  We  moved  on  once  more.  Then 
sounded  the  rattling  clang  of  iron  bars — but 
it  came  from  behind  us.  The  bell  had  ceased 
to  ring ;  but  as  we  moved  slowly  on  I  heard 
the  voice  of  the  padre  chanting  in  a  low  and 
solemn  key.  Then  utter  silence  fell,  except 
the  unshod  footfall  of  my  bearers  and  a  mur 
mur  as  of  night-winds  in  the  trees.  Suddenly 

an  owl  hooted  overhead,  and  then 1  must 

have  fainted. 

I  thought  I  was  again  in  the  Barbadian 
sloop,  during  the  storm.  Bound  in  my  narrow 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        143 

berth  I  rocked  and  swayed,  while  overhead  the 
boisterous  wind  howled  in  the  rigging.  The 
strained  timbers  creaked  and  groaned,  and  now 
and  then  sounded  the  sharp  snapping  of  some 
frail  spar.  A  woman's  sobbing  reached  me 
through  it  all, — the  low,  gasping  sobs  of  one 
whose  breath  is  spent.  I  pushed  back  the  cov 
ers  and  looked  around  me. 

It  was  gray  dawn  in  the  forest.  Through 
the  tossing  branches  overhead  I  saw  the 
pale  clouds  scudding  beneath  an  angry  heaven. 
I  looked  toward  my  feet  and  perceived  the 
back  of  a  strange  man  with  dark  head,  bent 
shoulders,  and  bare  brown  arms  grasping  the 
sides  of  my  litter.  Some  one  was  at  my  head 
also ;  turning  quickly,  I  met  his  eyes  looking 
into  mine  :  it  was  Padre  Felipe.  I  sat  up, 
with  a  sudden  gasp. 

"  Barbara  !  "  I  cried,  "  where  are  you,  Bar 
bara?" 

When  only  the  weak  sobs  answered  me  I 
threw  myself  from  the  litter  to  the  ground,  fall 
ing  in  an  impotent  heap  with  my  feet  entangled 
in  the  wrappings.  But  I  caught  sight  of  my 
good  dame  staggering  on  behind,  half  dragged, 
half  carried  by  two  Indian  youths.  Her  cloth 
ing  was  torn  and  draggled,  her  face  pitiably 
scratched,  while  great  tears  chased  each  other 
down  her  wrinkled  cheeks. 


144        tHE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

The  litter  had  stopped.  Padre  Felipe 
helped  me  to  my  feet  ;  but  I  turned  from  him 
and  threw  my  arms  around  Barbara's  neck. 
She  clung  to  me  desperately,  her  breath 
catching  and  her  voice  broken  as  she  tried  to 
speak. 

The  friar  took  her  by  the  shoulder  roughly. 

"  She  is  worn  out  with  tramping  through 
the  woods  all  night.  It  is  no  wonder  !  But 
'twas  her  own  doing,  for  she  would  come  ;  now 
she  must  keep  up  or  be  left  behind.  We 
must  reach  shelter  before  the  storm  breaks  in 
earnest,  for  it  will  be  no  light  one." 

A  heavier  gust  passed  while  he  was  speak 
ing;  there  was  a  louder  moan  in  the  tree-tops, 
and  a  broken  branch  crashed  down  at  our  very 
feet. 

"  Have  we  much  farther  to  go  ?  "  I  asked. 
He  shook  his  head. 

"  About  a  league,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  Not  more,"  was  his  reply. 

"  Then  put  the  poor  dame  in  the  litter,  and 
I  will  walk." 

He  looked  intently  at  me.  "  Can  you  do 
it?" 

"  Better  than  she.  I  feel  faint  here,"  I 
added,  laying  my  hand  upon  my  bosom,  "  but 
my  limbs  are  young  and  strong  and  un 
wearied." 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        145 

"  You  want  food,"  was  his  brief  comment ; 
and,  turning  to  the  litter,  he  drew  out  from  a 
concealed  pouch  that  was  slung  beneath  it,  a 
bottle  of  water  and  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  gave 
me  to  drink  and  to  eat.  I  took  it  gladly,  and 
Barbara  did  likewise.  I  thought,  then,  he 
would  have  taken  some  himself ;  but  he  put  by 
the  remainder,  saying  he  had  no  need  of  it,  and 
signed  to  the  old  woman  to  take  her  place  in 
the  litter,  which  was  then  raised  by  two  of  his 
followers.  The  third  went  in  advance  to  clear 
away  obstacles  from  the  path,  and  we  followed 
behind,  I  clinging  to  the  padre's  arm. 

He  said  no  more  to  me,  but  the  touch  of 
his  hand  was  not  ungentle.  I  marked  how  he 
led  me  over  the  smoothest  ground,  choosing 
the  briars  himself,  though  his  feet  were  bare, 
and  shielding  me  with  his  arm  from  the  sharp 
blades  of  the  dwarf  palmettos  that  hedged  the 
way. 

As  I  walked  beside  him  I  could  but  marvel 

at  the  strange  turns  of  Fate  ;  for  now  it  seemed 

that  I  would  owe  my  deliverance,  in  part,  to 

one  of  the  very  class  I  most  hated  as  being 

I  the  first  cause  of  our  captivity.     From  time  to 

^time  I  glanced  up  at  his  dark,  stern  face,  and 

wondered  whether,  if   I  had  not   chanced  to 

be  his  charge  and  under  his  sworn  protection, 

he  could  have  found  it  in  his  heart  to   burn 

me  for  a  heretic  ! 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  light  grew  ever  stronger  behind  the 
hurrying  clouds,  but  the  deep  places  in  the 
forest  held  their  shadows  still.  Tall  cypress- 
trees  reared  their  heads  amid  the  hollows  and 
spread  their  branches  like  a  wide  canopy  over 
our  heads  ;  huge  live-oaks  crowned  the  hum 
mocks  ;  and  here  and  there  great  laurels 
lifted  their  pyramids  of  glossy,  dark-green 
foliage.  Our  passage  was  frequently  obstructed 
by  fallen  logs,  mossed  over  with  the  growth 
of  years ;  and  tangles  of  vine,  tough-stemmed 
and  supple,  flung  themselves  from  tree  to  tree 
across  our  path,  resisting  our  advance.  All 
through  the  forest's  higher  corridors  howled 
the  riotous  wind  ;  but  along  the  tunneled  ways 
we  traveled  it  was  scarce  perceptible  at  times. 

In  spite  of  my  fatigue  I  felt  a  greater 
strength  rising  within  me.  We  had  come  so 
far  without  pursuit !  I  began  to  hope  as  I  had 
never  done  before ;  for  was  not  my  dear  love 
free,  and  my  face  also  set  toward  friends  ? 

As  I  mused  thus  we  reached  a  higher  level, 
and,  through  a  rent  in  the  stormy  sky  a  shaft 
pf  morning  sunlight  glanced  across  my  shoulder 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        147 

and  plunged  forward  into  the  woods  beyond. 
I  looked  back,  startled,  and  for  a  brief  moment 
saw  the  sun's  golden  disc  ;  then  a  black  cloud 
effaced  it  from  the  sky. 

"  Padre  !  "  I  cried,  "  we  are  travelling  west 
ward  !  " 

"Yes,"  he  said  calmly. 

"  Westward  !  "  I  exclaimed  again.  "  West 
ward — and  inland  !  when  the  English  settle 
ment  lies  to  the  north  of  us,  upon  the  coast !  " 

He  bowed  again  in  silent  acquiescence. 
Then  my  indignation  broke  forth,  and  without 
stopping  for  further  question  I  accused  him 
bitterly  of  breach  of  trust. 

"  Did  you  not  promise  Dona  Orosia  to 
deliver  me  to  my  friends  ?  "  I  cried. 

"What  cause  have  you  to  doubt  my  good 
faith  ? "  he  asked,  turning  his  sombre  eyes 
toward  me,  but  still  speaking  in  the  same  calm 
tones.  "  Had  I  a  ship  at  San  Augustin  in 
which  we  could  set  sail  ?  Or  could  such  a  ship 
have  left  the  harbour  unperceived  ?  Not  even 
a  canoe  could  have  been  obtained  there  with 
out  danger  of  discovery.  We  have  a  long 
journey  before  us, — could  we  set  out  upon  it 
unprovisioned?  " 

I  hung  my  head,  ashamed  of  my  doubts. 
Once  it  was  not  my  nature  to  be  suspicious; 
but  so  much  of  trouble  had  come  to  me  of  late 


148        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

that  I  began  to  fear  I  would  never  again  feel 
the  same  confidence  in  my  fellow  creatures, 
the  same  implicit  trust  in  Heaven  that  I  had 
held  two  years  ago.  I  had  never  been  a 
stranger  to  trouble  ;  but,  as  a  child,  I  knew  it 
only  as  a  formless  cloud  that  cast  its  shadow 
sometimes  on  my  path,  dimming  the  sunlight 
for  a  moment  and  hushing  the  song  upon  my 
lips.  Even  when  my  mother  died  I  was  too 
young  for  more  than  a  child's  grief — an  April 
shower  of  tears ;  and  although  my  earliest 
maidenhood  was  often  lonely,  I  had  made  me 
my  own  happiness  with  bright  imaginings, 
and  prayed  God  to  bring  them  to  pass.  So  I 
awaited  my  future  always  with  a  smile  and 
never  doubted  that  it  would  be  fair.  All  that 
had  gone  by.  Trouble  had  shown  its  face  to 
me,  and  I  knew  it  for  something  terrible  and 
strong,  ready  to  leap  at  my  throat  and  crush 
life  out  of  me.  What  wonder,  then,  that  I 
walked  fearfully  from  hour  to  hour  ? 

Padre  Felipe  spoke  again  after  a  time. 
"  The  woods  are  thinning,"  he  said.  "A  few 
more  steps  and  we  shall  come  out  on  the 
shores  of  the  San  Juan,  near  to  a  small  village 
of  the  Yemassees,  in  which  there  are  many 
whose  eyes  have  been  opened  to  the  truth. 
There  we  shall  find  shelter  from  the  storm, 
and  means  to  pursue  our  journey  when  the 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.    *49 

clouds  are  past.  Let  us  hasten  ;  the  bearers 
with  the  litter  are  far  ahead." 

He  gave  me  his  arm  once  more,  and  ere 
many  minutes  were  past,  we  came  in  sight  of 
the  bold  stream  of  the  San  Juan  and  the 
crowded  huts  of  an  Indian  village. 

The  settlement  did  not  appear  to  be  near  so 
large  as  that  at  Santa  Catalina,  nor  did  the 
buildings  seem  of  as  great  size  and  commodi- 
ousness.  The  most  imposing  edifice  I  took 
to  be  the  mission  chapel,  for  before  it  was  the 
great  cross  mounted  aloft.  It  was  circular  in 
shape,  with  mud  walls,  and  a  thatched  roof 
rising  to  an  apex.  There  was  a  door  in  the 
side,  of  heavy  planks  battened  strongly 
together;  but  I  could  perceive  no  windows, 
only  a  few  very  small  square  apertures,  close 
under  the  eaves,  for  light  and  air. 

The  clouds  were  beginning  to  spill  great 
drops  upon  our  heads,  so  we  quickened  our 
steps  into  a  run.  The  litter  and  its  bearers 
had  paused  beside  the  door  of  the  chapel,  and 
from  the  neighbouring  huts  several  Indians 
emerged  and  advanced  to  meet  us.  A  young 

o 

woman  with  a  little  copper-coloured  babe 
strapped  to  her  back,  its  tiny  head  just  visible 
over  her  shoulder,  peered  at  us  from  the  low 
doorway  of  her  mud-walled  dwelling,  but  meet 
ing  my  eyes,  drew  back  hastily  out  of  sight. 


150        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.. 

I  was  very  weary,  and  Barbara,  who  had 
dismounted  from  the  litter,  seemed  unable  to 
stand.  The  padre  was  holding  converse  with 
those  of  his  dark-skinned  flock  who  had  ap 
proached  ;  so  we  two  women  crouched  down 
under  the  chapel  eaves  and  gazed  around  us  at 
the  wind-tossed,  rain-blurred  scene. 

Before  us  was  a  thick  grove  of  trees ;  to  the 
left  we  could  catch  glimpses  of  the  river,  gray 
and  angry  like  the  sky,  and  all  along  its  banks 
the  huddled  dwellings  of  the  poor  barbarians, 
whose  ideals  of  architecture  were  no  whit  better 
than  those  of  the  wasp, — not  near  so  complex 
as  those  of  the  ant  and  the  bee. 

Suddenly,  while  we  waited  there  forlorn,  my 
thoughts  flew  back  to  an  English  home,  with 
its  ivied  walls,  its  turreted  roof,  its  long  facade 
of  warm  red  brick.  I  saw  green  slopes,  broad 
terraces,  a  generous  portal,  and  a  spacious  hall ; 
I  thought  of  a  room  with  an  ample  chimney 
set  round  with  painted  tiles,  and  I  pictured 
myself  kneeling  upon  the  bearskin  rug  before 
a  blazing  fire,  with  my  head  upon  my  mother's 
knee  and  her  fingers  toying  with  my  hair. 
For  that  moment  I  forgot  even  my  dear  love, 
and  I  would  have  given  all  the  world  just  to 
be  a  little  child  at  home. 

jThe  padre  turned  to  us  at  last  and  motioned 
us  to  follow  him.     He  led  us  to  the  rear  of  the 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        151 

chapel,  where,  plastered  against  the  wall,  was 
a  semicircular  excrescence, — a  tiny  cell,  with  a 
narrow  door  hewn  from  a  single  plank  and 
fastened  with  a  heavy  padlock.  Drawing 
forth  a  key  from  his  belt  he  unlocked  this  and 
bade  us  enter.  We  did  so,  and  he  closed  the 
door  behind  us. 

Within,  the  hard  earth  floor  was  slightly 
raised  and  covered  with  mats  of  woven  pal 
metto-leaves.  A  narrow  chink  in  the  wall 
admitted  a  faint  ray  of  light,  enabling  us  to 
perceive  dimly  the  few  objects  which  the 
room  contained.  Apparently  it  was  Padre 
Felipe's  sleeping  apartment  and  the  chapel 
vestry  combined  in  one.  There  was  a  curtained 
doorway  that  gave  access  to  the  chapel  itself ; 
pushing  aside  the  hangings,  we  could  see  the 
dim  interior,  empty  except  for  the  high  altar 
set  with  tall  candles,  and  a  carven  crucifix 
upon  the  wall. 

As  I  caught  sight  of  these  emblems  of  a 
Christian  faith  I  bethought  me  of  the  bloody 
sacrifices  that  had  been  offered  to  a  pitiful 
God  in  the  name  of  orthodoxy,  and  I  wondered 
whether  heretics  like  us  would  not  be  safer 
out  in  the  wild  woods  and  the  driving  storm — 
aye,  even  at  the  mercy  of  infidel  barbarians ; 
but  suddenly  I  remembered  the  solid  silver 
service  which  was  to  be  the  gift  of  Dona  Oro- 


152        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

sia  to  this  little  new  mission,  and  I  took  cour 
age. 

The  rain  was  now  pouring  in  torrents  from 
the  thatched  roof,  and  the  wind,  which  blew 
from  the  northeast,  dashed  it  back  against  the 
mud  walls  of  our  refuge.  I  turned  to  Barbara 
and  gave  voice  to  an  anxiety  that  for  some 
time,  had  been  growing  within  me. 

"  Dear  dame,"  I  said,  "think  you  this  storm 
is  worse  at  sea  ?  " 

"  Aye,  my  lamb,  'tis  from  an  ugly  quarter  ; 
but  the  Carolina  has  weathered  harder  blows, 
and  haply  she  has  found  good  anchorage  in 
some  safe  harbour." 

I  tried  to  think  the  same ;  nevertheless,  in 
the  long  hours  that  we  sat  there,  listening  to 
the  heavy  gusts  and  beating  rain,  my  heart 
went  faint  at  the  possibility  of  this  new  dan 
ger  to  my  beloved. 

It  must  have  been  past  noon  when  the  padre 
came  to  us  again.  He  brought  food  with  him 
freshly  cooked, — meat  and  fish,  and  broth  of 
parched  corn-flour,  not  unpleasant  to  the 
taste. 

"  The  wind  is  abating,"  he  declared,  "  and 
the  clouds  are  breaking  away.  When  the 
rain  ceases  we  may  venture  to  pursue  our 
journey." 

I  begged  to  know  how  he  purposed  to  con- 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        153 

vey  us,  for  neither  Barbara  nor  I  could  go 
afoot  much  longer. 

Then  he  laid  his  plans  before  us.  This 
wide  river,  the  San  Juan,  flowing  by  the  set 
tlement,  continues  northward  for  many  miles 
and  then  curves  eastward  and  empties  itself 
into  the  sea.  We  were  to  start  in  two  swift 
canoes — piraguas,  he  styled  them — and,  keep 
ing  at  first  under  the  lee  of  the  shore,  follow 
the  river  to  its  mouth,  then  proceed  up  the 
coast  along  the  safe  passage  afforded  by  an 
outlying  chain  of  islands.  It  would  be  a  jour 
ney  of  about  ten  days  to  the  Indian  settlement 
at  Santa  Helena;  the  Indians  there,  he  ex 
plained,  were  allies  of  our  English  friends  and 
would  doubtless  aid  us  to  rejoin  them. 

I  asked  if  we  must  pass  by  Santa  Catalina  ; 
and  he  said  'twas  on,  our  way,  but  no  one 
there  would  hinder  us  while  we  were  under 
his  protection. 

"  Unless,"  he  added,  "  the  Governor  of  San 
Augustin  sends  out  a  ship  to  intercept  us 
there,  or  anywhere  upon  the  way ;  in  which 
.case  there  will  be  naught  for  me  to  do  but 
give  you  up  to  him." 

Upon  that  I  was  in  a  fever  to  be  gone;  for 
I  felt  that  the  day  could  not  pass  by  without 
Melinza's  discovering  my  flight,  and  I  would 
endure  any  hardship  rather  than  risk  his  inter 
cepting  us. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

IT  was  not  until  the  rain-clouds  had  all 
passed  by  that  the  padre  chose  to  embark. 
The  wind  was  still  high,  and  our  frail  canoes 
were  roughly  cradled  on  the  river's  turbulent 
bosom. 

Padre  Felipe,  Barbara,  and  I,  with  two  Indi 
ans,  filled  the  smaller  of  the  two  piraguas  ; 
the  other  held  five  Indians  and  a  store  of  pro 
visions  for  the  journey. 

The  afternoon  sky  was  naught  but  windy 
gloom  ;  white  clouds  rolled  over  us  in  billowy 
folds,  and  tattered  scarves  of  mist  trailed 
lower  still  and  seemed  almost  to  snare  their 
fringes  on  the  topmost  branches  of  the  forest. 
Close  under  the  protecting  river-bank  sped  our 
light  canoes,  cutting  their  way  through  the 
gray  waters.  The  dark-skinned  crews  bent  to 
the  paddle  silently,  with  corded  muscles 
tightening  in  their  lean  brown  arms,  and  still, 
impassive  faces  fixed  upon  the  seething  cur 
rent  or  the  swiftly  flying  shores. 

The  gloom  deepened  slowly  with  the  com. 
ing  of  the  night.  The  waters  darkened,  the 
dun  forest  became  black  and  vague.  At  last, 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        155 

to  my  eyes,  it  seemed  that  the  sailing  shadows 
in  the  sky,  the  inky,  swirling  stream,  and  the 
mysterious  shores  blended  in  one  all-pervading 
impenetrable  midnight.  I  could  not  realize 
that  we  were  moving ;  it  seemed,  rather,  that 
we  alone  were  still,  while  over  us  and  around 
us  the  spirits  of  the  night  flew  past.  I  felt 
the  wind  of  unseen  wings  lifting  my  hair ;  I 
heard  the  splash  and  gurgle  of  strange  crea 
tures  swimming  by.  With  my  hands  close 
locked  on  Barbara's  arm,  and  wide  eyes  star 
ing  into  nothingness,  I  waited  for  some  human 
sound  to  break  the  palpitating  silence. 

Finally  the  padre  spoke.  He  asked  some 
question  in  the  Indian  tongue.  One  of  the 
rowers  grunted  in  reply,  and  there  was  a  sud 
den  cessation  of  the  rapid  paddle-strokes. 
Then  a  signal  was  given  to  the  other  canoe, 
and  after  some  further  discussion  I  felt  that 
we  approached  the  shore.  There  was  a 
scraping,  jarring  sound,  followed  by  the  soft 
trampling  of  feet  upon  a  marshy  bank  ;  and 
then  a  hand  drew  me  up  and  guided  me  to 
land. 

"The  tide  is  running  too  strongly  against 
us,"  explained  the  voice  of  Padre  Felipe. 
"  We  will  rest  an  hour  or  two  and  wait  for  it 
to  turn." 

They  kindled   a  fire  somehow   and  spread 


156        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

a  blanket  upon  the  damp  ground.  I  remember 
that  Barbara  and  I  stretched  ourselves  upon 
it  and  I  laid  my  head  against  the  dame's 
shoulder, — then  weariness  overcame  me. 

It  seemed  the  very  next  moment  that  I 
was  roused ;  but  the  fire  was  out,  and  in  the 
sky  glimmered  a  few  dim  stars.  There  was 
a  strange  calm  reigning  as  we  re-embarked; 
for  the  wind  had  died  and  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  night  had  changed.  All  around  us  a 
faintly  luminous  sky  lifted  itself  above  the 
dense  horizon  line,  and  the  broad  bosom  of 
the  river  paled  to  the  hue  of  molten  lead. 
Still  brighter  grew  the  heavens;  the  thin 
clouds  drew  aside,  and  the  crescent  of  a  waning 
moon  spilled  glory  over  us.  And  now  our 
dark  piraguas  sped  over  the  surface  of  a  silver 
stream,  and  every  paddle-blade  dripped 
diamonds. 

It  is  a  noble  river,  this  San  Juan,  with  its 
broad  sweeps  and  curves.  At  times  it  widens 
to  a  lake,  and  again  thrusts  itself  into  the 
shores  as  though  its  waters  filled  the  print  of 
some  giant  hand  that  in  ages  past  had  rested 
heavily  with  outspread  fingers  on  the  yielding 
soil.  Aided  by  the  strong  current  we  glided 
on  as  swiftly  as  the  passing  hours.  Our 
faces  were  set  eastward  now,  and  I  waited, 
breathless,  for  the  day  to  wake. 


THE  STORY  OP  MARGARET  TUDOR.   157 

There  was  a  slow  parting  of  the  filmy  skies, 
as  though  Dawn's  rosy  fingers  brushed  aside  the 
curtains  of  her  couch  ;  then  came  a  gleam  of 
golden  hair  that  slid  across  her  downy  pillows. 
A  long-drawn  sigh  shivered  across  the  silent 
world,  and  with  a  sudden  dazzlement  we  saw — 
— "  the  opening  eyelids  of  the  Morn." 

From  the  southwest  a  fresh  wind  arose  and 
swept  clean  the  blue  heavens ;  and,  with  the 
early  sunbeams  sparkling  on  the  ripples  of 
the  tide,  the  canoes  darted  on  toward  the 
river's  mouth.  A  heron  flew  up  from  the 
marshes  suddenly,  and  sailed  over  our  heads 
on  its  strong  white  wings.  As  I  watched  it 
dip  out  of  sight  in  the  river  far  beyond  us  I 
caught  sight  of  another  gleaming  wing  that 
slowly  unfurled  itself  toward  the  sky. 

Touching  the  padre's  arm,  I  pointed  to  it. 

"  A  sail !  "  he  said. 

Our  canoes  quickly  sought  the  curve  of  the 
shore  and  crept  with  caution  toward  the  un 
known  vessel. 

"  It  can  scarcely  be  the  Habana  ship," 
murmured  the  padre,  "  for  the  Virgen  de  la 
Mar  was  at  anchor  in  the  harbour  when  we 
left  San  Augustin,  and  ere  morning  the  storm 
had  risen,  so  she  would  hardly  have  ventured 
forth  to  sea." 

"  There  are  other  vessels  carrying  sail  that 


158        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

ply  between  the  fort  and  these  coast  islands. 
We  came  from  Santa  Catalina  aboard  one  of 
them,"  I  whispered. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  padre,  "  but  this  is  too 
large."  He  paused  for  some  moments,  and 
then  added  :  "  Do  you  see  the  long,  straight 
lines  of  her  hull,  and  the  square  stern  ?  This 
is  no  Spanish  galley,  but  a  frigate  of  English 
build." 

"  Tis  the  Carolina  !  "  I  exclaimed,  "  'tis  the 
Carolina  !  " 

"  Oh  !  the  blessed,  blessed  English  ship  !  " 
sobbed  the  good  dame. 

Then  all  energies  were  bent  to  reach  her, 
for  it  was  plain  that  she  was  making  ready 
to  leave  her  anchorage, 

"  If  we  could  only  signal  to  those  on  board  !  " 
I  cried.  "  Loose  your  neck-kerchief,  Barbara, 
and  wave  it — wave  it  in  the  sunlight ! " 

"  We  are  too  close  to  the  shore,"  the  padre 
said.  "  She  can  scarce  distinguish  us  until  we 
strike  out  into  the  open." 

"  But  how  plainly  we  can  perceive  her  crew  ! 
And  see  the  stir  upon  the  decks — are  they 
not  drawing  up  the  anchor?  Oh,  Padre 
Felipe  !  "  I  cried  piteously,  "  wave  to  them  ! 
signal  them  !  or  they  will  leave  us  after  all ! " 

The  friar  rose  carefully  to  his  feet  ;  he,  too, 
was  heartily  glad  of  this  chance  to  be  rid  of 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        159 

his  charges,  and  in  no  mind  to  let  it  slip  by. 
With  Barbara's  white  kerchief  in  his  hand  he 
was  about  to  make  another  effort  to  attract 
the  notice  of  the  Carolina,  when  suddenly  he 
glanced  over  his  shoulder  toward  the  land, 
his  hand  fell  quickly  to  his  side,  and  he 
dropped  back  into  his  seat  with  an  exclamation 
of  dismay. 

One  of  the  Indians  rose  immediately,  and 
with  shaded  eyes  gazed  along  the  beach  as  it 
stretched  away  southward  to  San  Augustin. 
He  gave  a  grunt  of  acquiescence  and  sat  down, 
and  the  motion  of  the  paddles  ceased. 

"  What  have  you  seen  ?  "  I  cried  in  agony, 
struggling  also  to  my  feet. 

We  were  so  near  the  river's  mouth — almost 
upon  the  blue  waves  of  the  ocean  rolling  out 
to  the  shining  east !  Under  the  lee  of  the 
northern  shore  lay  the  English  ship  ;  and  south 
of  us  the  coast  spun  out  its  gleaming  line  of 
sandy  beach  away,  away  back  to  the  prison  we 
had  left.  But  what  were  those  dark  forms 
that  swarmed  the  sands  ? 

"  We  are  too  late  !  "  muttered  the  Spanish 
friar.  "  Discovering  your  flight,  they  have  not 
waited  for  calm  weather  to  follow  in  a  swift 
sailing-vessel,  as  I  had  thought  they  would, 
but  have  sent  out  a  search-party  afoot  to 
overtake  you  at  the  outset." 


160        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

"  But  we  must  reach  the  Carolina  before 
they  arrive,  Padre !  " 

"  It  can  be  done,  easy  enough,"  he  answered, 
"  but  what  shall  I  and  my  followers  do  if  we 
are  seen  ?  Girl,  I  have  too  much  at  stake !  I 
choose  not  to  incur  the  Governor's  anger. 
'Tis  not  likely  that  they  connect  us  with  your 
disappearance,  for  Dona  Orosia  swore  to  shield 
me  in  the  matter.  I  have  done  all  I  could. 
It  is  thus  far  and  no  farther.  But  you  may 
yet  escape  ;  'tis  only  a  little  distance  to  the 
ship  ;  take  up  the  paddles  and  make  your  way 
thither." 

As  he  spoke  he  stepped  from  our  canoe  to 
the  larger  one  which  had  closed  up  with  us, 
and  the  two  Indians  followed  him. 

"  Padre  !  oh,  Padre !  Do  not  leave  me,  do 
not  desert  me !  " 

They  paid  no  heed  to  my  appeal  save  to 
give  a  mighty  shove  to  our  canoe  that  sent  it 
out  toward  midstream ;  then,  seizing  their 
paddles,  with  swift  strokes  they  sent  their  own 
piragua  speeding  up  the  river. 

It  had  all  passed  so  quickly — so  suddenly 
our  hopes  had  been  destroyed  !  Barbara  and  I 
had  been  thrown  forward  by  the  impetus 
given  to  our  frail  boat,  and  we  cowered  down 
in  silence  for  a  moment.  The  current  was 
still  bearing  us  outward ;  but  every  second 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.    161 

our  motion  slackened  :  we  would  never  reach 
the  ship  without  some  effort  on  our  part. 

I  seized  a  paddle  and  worked  vigorously ; 
but  the  light  boat  only  swung  round  and 
round. 

"  Barbara !  "  I  cried,  "  take  the  other  paddle 
and  work  with  me.  I  can  do  nothing  all 
alone!" 

The  dame  obeyed  me,  sobbing  and  praying 
under  her  breath  ;  but  we  made  sorry  work  of 
it. 

I  looked  shoreward  and  could  see  our  pur 
suers  drawing  closer  and  closer ;  they  had  not 
yet  perceived  us,  but  in  a  moment  more  they 
could  not  fail  to  do  so.  As  they  drew  still 
nearer,  riding  on  his  dappled  gray  in  the  midst 
of  them,  I  recognized  Melinza  !  With  him 
were  a  troop  of  Spanish  soldiers — I  saw  the 
sunlight  flashing  on  their  arms — and  some 
twenty  half-naked  Indians,  who  might  so 
easily  swim  out  and  drag  us  back  to  land  ! 

"They  see  us!  Mistress  Margaret,  they  see 
us  !  "  shouted  Barbara. 

"  Oh  !  not  yet,  dame,  not  yet !  "  I  groaned, 
plying  the  paddle  wildly. 

"  The  English,  my  lamb — the  English  see  us  ! 
Look  you,  they  are  putting  out  a  boat  from 
the  ship  !  " 

It  was  true ;  but  ere  I  could  utter  a  "  Thank 


162        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

God  !  "  a  yell  from  the  shore  told  us  that  those 
fiends  had  seen  us  also.  Barbara  would  have 
dropped  her  paddle  in  despair,  but  I  ordered 
her  sternly  to  make  what  play  she  could. 
As  for  me,  I  dipped  my  blade  now  on  one  side, 
now  on  the  other;  the  trick  of  it  had  come  to 
me  like  an  inspiration  ;  my  fingers  tightened 
their  hold,  and  my  arms  worked  with  the 
strength  born  of  a  great  terror. 

Our  pursuers  had  reached  the  river-shore, 
and  a  swarm  of  dark  forms  now  threw  them 
selves  into  the  stream.  But  the  long-boat 
from  the  frigate  came  toward  us  rapidly ;  I  saw 
white  English  faces  and  heard  shouts  of 
encouragement  in  my  mother  tongue. 

Then  a  volley  of  musketry  rang  out  from  the 
land.  Instantly,  the  frigate  made  response ; 
her  heavy  guns  thundered  forth,  and  the 
white  smoke  wreathed  her  like  a  cloud.  But 
all  the  shots  were  falling  short. 

Nearer  came  the  long-boat,  yet  nearer  was 
the  foremost  swimmer.  I  saw  his  brown  arms 
cleaving  the  clear  tide,  I  saw  the  white  eyeballs 
gleaming  in  his  dark  face.  Friends  and  foes 
were  now  so  close  together  that  from  the  shore 
it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  them  ;  so  the 
shots  had  ceased,  and  in  their  place  rang  out 
wild  curses  and  savage  yells.  A  sinewy  brown 
hand  rose  from  the  water  and  seized  the  edge 


"NEARER  CAME  THE  LONG  BOAT,  YET  NEARER  WAS  THE 

FOREMOST  SWIMMER."— Page  1 6 2. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.   163 

of  our  frail  canoe,  tilting  it  far  over.  The  sud 
den  jerk  destroyed  my  balance,  and  in  a  mo 
ment  I  felt  the  waters  close  over  my  head. 

Strong  hands  grasped  me  as  I  rose  again 
and  I  battled  fiercely ;  for  I  thought  the 
Indian  had  me  in  his  hold,  and  I  chose  rather, 
to  die.  But  my  weak  strength  was  overcome, 
and  I  was  lifted — aye,  thank  God  ! — lifted  into 
the  English  boat,  and  Master  Collins  wiped 
the  water  from  my  face. 

I  saw  them  drag  the  dame  in  also,  and  then 
I  closed  my  eyes.  I  did  not  faint, — never  in 
all  my  life  had  I  been  so  very  much  alive ;  but 
the  sunlight  and  the  blue  sky  were  too  bright 
for  me. 

I  cannot  tell  much  of  what  followed.  There 
were  a  few  more  shots,  and  one  of  the  Eng 
lish  sailors  dropped  his  oar  and  held  up  a 
bleeding  hand.  I  sought  my  kerchief  to  bind 
it  up  for  him,  but  I  could  not  find  it.  And 
then,  I  looked  up  and  saw  the  Carolina  close 
beside  us.  A  ringing  cheer  went  up  to  heaven, 
and  kind  hands  raised  me  to  the  deck.  The 
sunburnt  face  of  Captain  Brayne  bent  over 
me,  and  there  were  tears  in  his  honest  eyes. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THERE  were  other  women  on  the  ship,  and 
one  of  them  came  forward  and  led  me  away 
to  her  cabin  and  aided  me  to  rid  myself  of  my 
drenched  garments,  lending  me  others  in  their 
stead.  I  learned  from  her  that  the  Carolina 
had  come  direct  from  Barbadoes,  bearing 
freight  and  some  very  few  passengers, — the 
noise  of  our  treatment  at  the  Spaniards'  hands 
deterring  many  who  would  else  have  ventured 
to  throw  in  their  lot  with  the  young  colony. 
Captain  Brayne  bore  also  the  duplicate  of  the 
orders  of  the  Spanish  Council — which  had  been 
forwarded  from  England  to  Barbadoes ;  and 
he  had  been  instructed  by  their  Lordships 
the  Proprietors,  to  stop  at  San  Augustin  and 
demand  the  prisoners. 

All  this  my  new  friend  told  me  during  her 
kindly  ministrations.  She  asked,  also,  many 
questions  concerning  my  escape  and  the  treat 
ment  I  had  received  during  our  long  captivity  ; 
but  I  was  too  exhausted  to  answer  these  at 
length,  and  begged  that  I  might  be  left  awhile 
to  rest.  She  went  away  then,  to  get  me  a  sooth- 


THB  STORY  Of  MARGARET  TUDOR.        165 

ing  potion  from  the  ship's  surgeon  ;  and  I  made 
haste  to  unwrap  the  little  packet  that  had  lain 
hidden  in  my  bosom,  in  which  was  the  written 
story  of  my  prison  life.  As  I  smoothed  out  the 
damp  pages  I  thought  of  how  I  would  place 
it  in  my  dear  love's  hand  and  leave  him  to 
read  all  that  my  tongue  could  never  say  to 
him ! 

I  slept  for  some  hours  and  woke  refreshed. 
Then  came  a  message  from  the  captain,  ask 
ing  if  I  would  see  him.  I  was  eager  to  be  out, 
for  many  reasons,  the  chief  being  my  desire 
to  see  him  from  whom  I  had  been  so  long 
parted ;  it  was  his  face  I  sought  first  among 
the  many  familiar  ones  that  crowded  round 
me.  Besides  Captain  Brayne  I  recognized 
other  officers  of  the  Carolina  as  the  same  with 
whom  I  had  sailed  from  the  Downs  nearly  two 
years  ago.  All  my  fellow  prisoners — save 
one — greeted  me  joyfully  and  kindly.  But 
that  one  missing  face — where  was  it  ? 

It  was  on  my  tongue  to  ask  for  Mr.  Rivers  ; 
then,  of  a  sudden,  it  came  over  me  how  we 
had  parted.  So !  and  he  still  believed  me — 
that  thing  which  I  had  shown  myself.  He 
had  nursed  his  doubts  for  two  whole  days  and 
nights,  and  now  he  would  not  even  come  for 
ward  to  touch  my  hand  and  wish  me  joy  of 
my  escape.  It  seemed  to  me  I  caught  glances 


166        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

of  pity  passing  between  one  and  another  of 
the  lookers-on.  Did  they  wait  to  see  how 
Margaret  Tudor  would  bear  her  lover's  apathy  ? 
A  jilted  maid ! 

There  was  a  mist  before  my  eyes ;  but  I 
smiled  and  said  little  gracious  words  of  thanks 
to  each  and  all  of  them,  and  wished  in  my 
heart  that  I  was  dead.  Oh,  my  love !  what 
ever  doubts  you  may  have  had  of  me  were 
paid  back  that  cruel  moment  in  full  measure. 
I  recalled  some  of  the  hard  speeches  I  had 
heard  from  the  embittered  Spanish  woman, 
and  I  thought  within  myself,  All  men  are 
made  after  the  same  pattern ! 

Captain  Brayne  and  Master  Collins  and  good 
old  Captain  Baulk  of  the  Three  Brothers  had 
been  in  earnest  conversation  for  some  moments ; 
and  now  the  Carolina  s  commander  came  to 
me  and  took  me  gently  by  the  hand,  leading 
me  aside. 

"  Mistress  Margaret,"  he  said,  "  there  is  one 
aboard  this  ship  to  whom  your  coming  may 
mean  life  instead  of  death.  He  is  very  ill, — so 
ill  that  we  despaired  of  him  till  now, — and  one 
name  is  ever  on  his  lips.  Are  you  too  weak 
and  unstrung,  my  dear  young  lady,  to  go  with 
me  to  his  sick  bed  ?  " 

That  was  how  the  truth  came  to  me.  I  can 
not  write  of  what  I  felt. 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        167 

"  Take  me  to  him,"  I  said. 

He  lay  in  his  berth ;  his  large  eyes  were 
alight  with  fever,  and  he  was  talking  cease 
lessly,  now  in  broken  whispers,  now  with  a 
proud  defiance  in  his  husky  tones. 

"  God  knows  what  the  devils  did  to  him," 
murmured  Henry  Brayne.  "  He  was  once  a 
proper  figure  of  a  man  ;  but  starvation  and  ill 
usage  have  worn  him  to  a  shadow !  " 

Aye,  but  a  shadow  with  a  gnawing  sorrow 
at  its  heart. 

"You  may  taunt  me,  Sefior  de  Melinza," 
whispered  the  broken  voice,  "  you  may  taunt 
me  with  my  helplessness.  I  may  not  break 
these  bonds,  it  is  true ;  but  neither  can  you 
sever  those  that  bind  to  me  the  love  of  a  true- 
hearted  English  maid.  .  .  .  That  is  a  foul  lie, 
Don  Pedro,  and  I  cast  it  back  into  your  teeth ! 
.  .  .  Strike  a  helpless  prisoner  ?  Do  so,  and 
you  add  but  another  black  deed  to  the  long 
score  that  stands  against  the  name  of  Spaniard. 
Some  day  the  reckoning  will  come,  sefior — I 
dare  stake  my  soul  on  that !  .  .  .  I'll  not  be 
lieve  it ;  no  !  not  upon  your  oath,  Don  Pedro  ! 
.  .  .  Margaret,  Margaret !  Tell  him  he  lies, 
dear  lady !  ...  In  God's  name,  speak,  sweet 
heart  !  "  And  though  I  knelt  beside  him,  and 
called  his  name  again  and  again,  he  was  deaf 
to  my  voice  and  put  me  by  with  feeble  hands, 


168        THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR. 

crying  ever  :  "  Margaret !  Margaret !  "  till  I 
thought  my  heart  would  break. 

Oh !  the  terror  of  this  new  jailer — dread 
Disease — that  held  him  in  its  grip  while 
Death  lurked  grimly  in  the  background ! 
For  no  wiles  or  blandishments  of  mine  could 
move  them  or  loose  their  hold  upon  the  life 
most  dear  to  me.  When  there  was  but  man 
to  deal  with,  my  faith  failed  me  and  I  ceased 
praying;  now  it  was  my  punishment  that 
only  God's  mercy  could  set  my  dear  love  free, 
— and  it  might  be  his  pleasure  to  loose  him  in 
another  world  and  leave  me  still  on  earth  to 
mourn  his  loss. 

As,  hour  after  hour,  I  listened  to  his  ravings, 
a  deeper  understanding  of  the  horrors  of  his 
long  captivity  began  to  grow  upon  me.  I 
could  scarce  forbear  crying  out  when  I  thought 
how  I  had  touched  the  hand  of  that  vile 
Spaniard,  and  listened,  smiling,  when  he  spoke 
of  love  to  me. 

How  terrible  a  thing  is  hatred !  Heaven 
pardon  me,  but  I  think  there  is  somewhat  of 
it  in  my  heart.  Yet,  now  that  the  fever  is 
abating,  and  my  beloved  is  coming  back  to  me 
from  the  very  brink  of  the  grave,  I  do  pray 
that  I  may  forgive  mine  enemy,  even  as  God 
in  His  clemency  has  pardoned  me  ! 


THE  STORY  OF  MARGARET  TUDOR.        169 

He  knows  me  at  last.  It  was  some  hours 
ago.  I  was  bending  over  him,  and  a  light  of 
recognition  dawned  in  his  eyes. 

"  Margaret !  Margaret !  is  it  you  ?  I 

dreamed  just  now that that  you  were 

untrue  to  me !  " 

"  Did  you  so,  dear  love  ? "  I  answered. 
"  Forget  it  then,  and  rest ;  for  now  the  fever 
and  the  dreams  are  past." 

He  smiled  at  me  and  fell  asleep  like  a  little 
child. 

In  the  long  hours  that  I  have  watched  be 
side  him  I  have  written  these  last  pages  of 
my  story ;  and  some  time,  when  he  is  awake 
and  strong  enough  to  bear  the  truth,  I  will 
put  them  all  into  his  hand  and  leave  him  here 
alone.  And  I  think,  when  he  has  read  them 
through  to  the  end,  he  will  discern — between 
the  lines — more  of  my  heart  than  I  have  words 
to  tell. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  C/ 
This  book  i. 


UNIVERSITY  ot  CALIFORNIA 

AT 

LOS  ANGELES 
LIBRARY 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


000  930  676  2 


PS 

3505 

C676m 


